A team of researchers from The School of Advanced Study, University of London, The University of York and Liverpool John Moores University is launching a joint research project to look at the policing of protests against fracking in England and Wales.

Following a series of high-profile protests against fracking around England and Wales since 2013, the team of researchers has already begun documenting the experiences of those involved in a number of these protests. The aim of this new project is to develop a broader national picture of the policing of protests against fracking and to explore the experiences of those involved in protest and community activism in this context.

The team of researchers has significant experience in researching protest policing and they hope to develop an understanding of the way in which the growing movement against fracking in England and Wales is policed.

After the recent decision by the UK government to overturn Lancashire council’s rejection of a fracking site, the research project seeks to understand how community activism and protest groups focused on fracking are developing in England and Wales.

The research team is working with the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) to seek to conduct interviews with anyone over the age of 16 who has been involved in protests and community activism against fracking in England and Wales since 2013, The research will focus predominantly, though not exclusively, on the following sites:

• Preston New Road, Lancashire ·
• Roseacre Wood, Lancashire
• Upton, Cheshire
• Crawberry Hill, East Yorkshire
• West Newton, East Yorkshire
• Horse Hill, Surrey

If campaigners are interested in getting involved in the research project, they can contact the research team for further information via Netpol at info@netpol.org