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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Travel
Michael MacLeod

Update: Investigation into policing costs of Edinburgh Climate Camp

RBS offices in Edinburgh
RBS offices in Edinburgh. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

Having been told Operation Octave was still ongoing at the end of last month, we are now trying again to find out how much Climate Camp cost to police.

Protesters spent a week occupying the grounds of the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters last month, demonstrating against their foreign investment policies.

The new FOI request and documents relating to our bid to report the costs of policing the protest can be viewed at the What Do They Know website.

Meanwhile, an online investigation into reports of two spills onto the A8 during the Climate Camp continues. Activists denied any involvement or knowledge of either spill.

Police reported at the time that two routes to Edinburgh were badly affected after "a substance similar to diesel or vegetable oil" was poured onto the carriageways.

A press release issued by Lothian and Borders Police on 23 August stated:

"City of Edinburgh Council has cleaned the A720 at Bankhead and the west bound A8. Drivers were advised to pass with caution, but traffic is now moving as normal.

A police spokesman said: 'This is an extremely reckless and dangerous act which could put many members of the public at risk.

'It is a worrying trend and disturbing escalation in the activities of the protestors.

'While the Force facilitates peaceful protest, public disorder, damage to property or any other criminal acts will not be tolerated.

'It is obvious that the activists have change their emphasis and we have considerable resources in place to respond in a proportionate and responsible manner.'"


However, a new entry on Help Me Investigate shows Traffic Scotland's logs show no spillage was reported to its control centre.

Various other traffic logs have been searched by users of the site, but none report the spillages mentioned by police.

We will post the response to our Freedom of Information Request when we receive it.

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