Four arrested after Dipton mine protest

Four people have been arrested after renewed activity in the vicinity of an opencast mining site.

Police were called to the Banks opencast site near Dipton at around 8.20pm last night (Saturday, June 2) following reports that two people had caused an obstruction by lying down in the road outside the site where they ‘locked on’ to a device and refused to move.

Specialist officers were called in from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service who worked to assist police for a number of hours to safely remove them.

A 23-year-old man from Cambridgeshire and a woman whose details are yet to be released were arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway. Two men aged 37 and 38 from Newcastle were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All remain in custody.

Two further people who arrived this evening (Sunday, June 3) remain ‘locked on’ at the site.

The A692 outside the site has been reduced to one lane over the weekend as part of upgrading works which were due to be completed today.

Unfortunately, due to the incidents which took place throughout the weekend, the work has been delayed. The road is currently open, however a traffic management system will remain in place to allow the work to be completed.

Chief Inspector Catherine Clarke, from Durham Constabulary, said: “We would like to thank the local community for their patience during this weekend’s operation, and to apologise for the prolonged disruption it has caused as we dealt with the incidents.

“The behaviour we have seen this weekend, which we have previously raised concerns about, continues to affect the day-to-day policing of our communities and is having a financial impact on Durham Constabulary and its partners.”

A 21-year-old woman, who is a foreign national, was also arrested yesterday (Saturday, June 2) to prevent a breach of the peace.

She will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, June 4)