Two men have been charged after a vehicle was driven into striking workers on a picket line outside the Sellafield nuclear site on Wednesday morning (17 September).
One of those hit by the vehicle, a man aged 55, was taken to the West Cumberland Hospital with serious injuries before being transferred to the Cumberland Infirmary. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The other, a man aged 39, also attended hospital with minor injuries and has now been discharged.
Cumbria Constabulary said that officers worked through the night following the incident and secured charges in the early hours of this morning.
Craig Fawcett, 50, of Seascale, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and Albert Darren Fawcett, 52, of Gosforth, was charged with dangerous driving.
Both remain in custody ahead of a hearing before magistrates in Carlisle today.
Two other men aged 19 and 16 were also arrested and have been bailed with conditions.
“Officers are aware of some tensions in the community and would ask everybody to act responsibly,” said Cumbria Constabulary. “People may see an increased police presence as officers continue to offer visible reassurance to the community.
“Officers have been liaising with the organisers of the industrial action at this location to also offer reassurance.
“Police would continue to ask people not to share any footage circulating online or speculate about the circumstances so as not to impact criminal justice proceedings.”
‘This will not deter our members’
The union Unite has “utterly condemned the unprovoked attack” on its members.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “The police must use the full force of the law to prosecute those responsible.
“This incident will not deter our members in continuing with their lawful industrial action and the strikes will go ahead as planned.”
Unite North West’s regional secretary, Ritchie James, added: “The incident is both shocking and horrifying to all those who witnessed it. Unite is aware that four individuals have been arrested.”
A Sellafield spokesperson said in a statement: “We are aware of a collision outside of the Sellafield site [yesterday] morning involving a vehicle and people taking part in planned industrial action at the site.
“As this is now under investigation by police, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the incident.”
Unite, which represents more than 1,500 construction workers at the Sellafield nuclear site, said that its members had organised a four-day strike over pay and the refusal to increase Sellafield-specific allowances.
Strike action is expected to continue until the end of Thursday as planned.
