BBC: Ratcliffe power station protesters cleared on appe

FANTASTIC AND GREAT NEWS ........ at last!

Ratcliffe power station protesters cleared on appeal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14203873

The convictions of 20 protesters for trying to shut down the UK's second largest power station have been quashed by the Court of Appeal.

The ruling came after it was revealed the group had been infiltrated by undercover police officer Mark Kennedy.

They had been convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass at the Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire.

The 20 had received either community orders or conditional discharges.

They were found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court in December and the judge accepted they were "decent men and women" motivated by their concern for the environment.

A later trial involving six protesters collapsed in January.

It followed claims that former Metropolitan Police officer Pc Kennedy - who had been using the name Mark Stone in his covert work - had changed sides and offered to give evidence on their behalf.

He was said to have spent seven years working undercover in the green movement across Europe.

The case was heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with two other judges.

Lord Judge said the convictions were unsafe "because of significant non-disclosure" of material "which would have been supportive of the defence case".

The full judgement outlining details of the decision will be given on Wednesday.

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also .... these are the links for info on the judge led enquiry to be set up:

 Director of Public Prosecution identifies retired Court of Appeal judge and terms of reference for enquiry into Crown Prosecution Service’s handling of prosecution of Bindmans’ clients

http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=1010

Inquiry into undercover policeman who infiltrated environmental activists begins-The Independent  13 July 2011 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/inquiry-into-undercover-policeman-who-infiltrated-environmental-activists-begins-2312977.html

Mark Kennedy's secret tapes: CPS launches wide-ranging inquiry -The Guardian 13 July 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/13/mark-kennedy-secret-tapes-inquiry

DPP announces details of independent inquiry into Ratcliffe-on-Soar cases - CPS 13 July 2011

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/press_releases/121_11/