POLICING the Kirby Misperton fracking site cost North Yorkshire Police an extra £100,000 last month. That’s a lot of money for a force which, like so many other public bodies, is strapped for cash.

There will be those who grumble about the actions of protesters. But, as long as they don’t break the law, people in this country have an absolute right to protest. That is one of the freedoms of which we should be most proud.

Sometimes those freedoms come at a cost. But perhaps, in this instance, it would not be unreasonable to ask Third Energy, which plans to begin fracking ‘on or after October 26’, to make a contribution?