The DUP Agriculture spokesperson was in Westminster when the fuel protests unfolded across the province on Tuesday afternoon. In her letter she said: “From what I and others observed on television and social media, the protests appeared to be peaceful in nature.

“The policing presence on the ground at that time appeared measured and proportionate. Participants were conveying a clear and consistent message to government, in a manner broadly comparable to protest activity seen in other jurisdictions.
 
“However, having spoken directly to a number of individuals who have subsequently received fixed penalty notices, I have very grave concerns regarding the basis upon which these notices have been issued. I have also been made aware of enforcement actions including visits to individuals’ homes, which has caused significant concern among those affected.”
 
The MP said it had been represented to her, that some individuals who have received fixed penalty notices were not engaged in conduct meeting the legal threshold for offences such as careless or dangerous driving.  She added: “Based on the accounts provided and material available, much of the activity appears to have involved slow-moving vehicles associated with the protest. As you will be aware, whether such conduct constitutes an offence is a matter requiring careful, fact-specific assessment against the relevant statutory tests.”
 
In the letter, Carla Lockhart also questioned how determinations were made on individual culpability. She said: “In circumstances where vehicles were moving slowly as part of a wider procession, it is not immediately clear how distinctions have been drawn between those actively organising or leading the protest and those who may have been travelling along the same routes and became caught up in the convoy. This raises legitimate questions as to the evidential basis for attributing liability in individual cases.
 
“In light of the above, I would be grateful for clarification as to whether the enforcement actions formed part of a pre-planned operational strategy, the legal basis and evidential standards applied in determining that fixed penalty notices should be issued in these circumstances, and whether directives were issued at a senior level regarding post-event enforcement.”
 
Given the importance of maintaining public confidence in policing, particularly in the context of what many consider to be a significant and ongoing crisis within the agricultural sector, the MP pointed out that it is essential that the PSNI’s enforcement action is demonstrably necessary, proportionate, and consistent with both statutory powers and the rights of individuals.
 
Ms Lockhart concluded: “For the avoidance of doubt, I recognise and respect the rule of law, and the duty on the Police Service of Northern Ireland to uphold public order and road safety. Equally, there is a well-established right to peaceful assembly and expression, which must be facilitated and protected in a proportionate manner.”