Have just discussed with someone present at the camp... it appears that the police have initiated a section 60 in the area surrounding the Climate Camp, however there is not a huge police presence around the camp, it is merely being used as an additional measure to stop and search people - much like the Section 60s that have been imposed on previous mayday protests in London.

A quick google gives a bit of background to what Section 60 is:

Under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, a police officer of the rank of inspector or above may issue a written authorisation for additional search powers on the basis of a reasonable belief that incidents involving serious violence may take place or that people are carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons in the area without good reason. The powers relate to pedestrians and vehicles in a specified locality, for a specified period, not exceeding 48 hours at a time. Where an authorisation has been issued, any constable in uniform may stop and search any pedestrian or anything carried by the pedestrian, or any vehicle or anyone in it, for offensive weapons and dangerous instruments and may seize any such items which are found. In addition, the police may require you to remove any item which they reasonably believe you are wearing wholly or mainly for the purpose of concealing your identity. They can seize such items and any you were intending to wear wholly or mainly for that purpose. This clearly includes removal of head and face coverings. Where the covering is worn for religious reasons the police have to be sensitive about the removal and it should not be removed in public and, if possible, not in the presence of anyone of the opposite sex.

Know your rights!!

[The police]... have no legal power to force you to give them your name and address. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES give it to them: it will be kept on file for SEVEN years. When asked, say "NO COMMENT".
...
At N30 and [various] Mayday [protests] in London, riot police cordoned off the demonstration, corralling large numbers of people into an increasing confined area before taking their names, addresses and photographs, eventually releasing them one by one. This was done under the obscure Section 60 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 (originally designed to prevent minor football disturbances).

The S60 order is a new police tactic at major demonstrations used effectively to control, subdue and gain personal information about protesters despite having the extraordinarily limited power simply to "Stop and search in anticipation of violence".

Its effectiveness in the past was due to the fact that no-one knew just exactly what powers the police had under S60. As it turns out, they have very few powers.

In the event of an S60 order being issued ... these are the important things to remember: The police have the power to search you for weapons (and dangerous instruments). They have no other powers under S60. They can only detain you "for as long as necessary to carry out a search".

They have no legal power to force you to give them your name and address. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES give it to them: it will be kept on file for SEVEN years. When asked, say "NO COMMENT".

They have no legal power to force you to have your photograph taken. Do not allow them to do this. This too will be kept on file for SEVEN years. Keep your head turned away, or put your hand in front of your face.

They have no legal power to ask you to remove any item of clothing in public view, OTHER THAN that which is concealing your identity. Any facial masking can be confiscated.

If you are asked to remove coats/jumpers etc, REFUSE OUTRIGHT. They have no legal power to search wallets, purses, inside small pockets etc. This is an S60 search, for weapons only. If they ask to search wallets, purses, inside small pockets etc, REFUSE OUTRIGHT.

Sources

• urban75.org
• www.yourrights.org.uk

just to say the police have told people the section 60 is imposed for 2 hrs.

what seems to be happening is that at shift changes 'new' police are not properly briefed on what has been going on and so are less co-operative than either some of the local officers or those who have been onshift before.

so to be clear, people are still arriving at the camp, a temporary section 60 has been imposed on the immediate area allowing police to search people for weapons - they are not stopping people coming or going from the camp. Indeed all is cool at the camp and kitchens are just now serving up dinner!

The Section 60 was imposed for only 2 hours yesterday and was subsequently lifted. Only one vehicle was searched, supposedly for weapons and danagerous impliments, and that was the shuttle bus bringing people to the camp from Selby. The reasons for imposing the s.60 were pretty spurious - nonsense about automatic number plate recognition on dodgy vehicles, etc - as they did not logically imply that a 1 mile radius around the camp required such stop and search powers. It appears that one of the numerous police forces involved (hampshire we think in this case) were trying to flex their muscles. People are annoyed with the police, and this has communicated to them, as they feel that this is typical police garbage and dodgy intimidation tactics which has put back the work being done to liaise with them. At a time when the camp is working on establishing good will in the face of so much negative experience with the police, this does not help.

There has been no sign of any repeats tonight.