The government today disclosed the exact location of four sites for farm-scale trials of GM oilseed rape despite fears of environmental sabotage. Two of the sites are to be in Lincolnshire - Market Rasen and Glentham. The others will be at Bingham, Nottinghamshire, and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.
Tests are to begin in autumn.
Lincolnshire police said they would not be stepping up surveillance at the sites in west Lincolnshire which have been selected. Chief superintendent Elaine Hill told a press conference in Lincoln that police would respect the right of people to peaceful protest, but would not hesitate to step in if the law was broken. However, we also have a responsibility to landowners, farmers and the general public of Lincolnshire who reside near any genetic crop sites. Protesters are not entitled to break the criminal law or cause a breach of the peace. This is the point where police become involved in their law enforcement role.