The CEO of Southern Water was placed under citizens arrest by female activists who held hands and surrounded him after he allegedly caused a ‘public nuisance’.
Footage shows Lawrence Gosden encircled by the anti-pollution protesters as he makes his way to a conference in London.
The flustered businessman says ‘I’m so sorry, can I please make my way to my meeting’ and ‘please don’t constrain me’ as the women refuse to let him go.
Gosden was accused of four counts of causing a public nuisance, with the claims centring on illegal sewage spills, equipment maintenance standards and the alleged ‘mismanagement’ of funds.
Citizens arrest is an archaic civil practice that allows citizens to detain a criminal until police arrive.
A woman, who appears to be the ringleader, tells Mr Gosden ‘this is a very serious matter’.
Mr Gosden responds, ‘right now you’re actually stopping me from getting on with that job. It’s really important. Rather than this I’d love to just talk to you about what we’re doing and how we’re actually doing it.’
The Citizen’s Arrest Network members called the police and presented officers with a ‘dossier of evidence’ when they arrived, but the officers opted to release the CEO.
Footage shows businessman Lawrence Gosden surrounded by hand-holding anti-pollution protesters as he makes his way to a conference in London
Mr Gosden attempts to reason with a woman who appears to be the ringleader of the all-female group
Southern Water said: ‘On Tuesday morning, our chief executive was impeded for a short time on his way into a trade event where he was speaking about the turnaround he is leading at Southern Water’
The group said: ‘Under Gosden, Southern Water is responsible for the most serious category of sewage pollution into rivers and seas and is under investigation by the Environment Agency.
‘In July a letter signed by ten MPs representing constituencies served by Southern Water urged Gosden to reject his bonus following bill increases and poor water quality.’
A spokesman added: ‘This month millions of toxic plastic beads washed up on the beach of Camber Sands in East Sussex.
‘It’s been called the “worst plastic pellet pollution incident on the UK coast for years” and an “ecological disaster”.
‘The beads were released by Southern Water, who did not admit to this drastic pollution for weeks.
‘They are dangerous if not deadly to wildlife – and therefore all living creatures in the food chain – and are expected to have delivered sewage pathogens straight to the adults and children living in the area.’
Southern Water did not initially claim responsibility for the Camber Sands spill, but on November 10 said it believed it had used the bio-beads in a wastewater treatment works.
The company said a screening filter failed, resulting in the beads being released into the sea.
Southern Water said it began to work with partner agencies immediately after receiving reports of beads being washed up along the coastline.
A spokesman said: ‘On Tuesday morning, our chief executive was impeded for a short time on his way into a trade event where he was speaking about the turnaround he is leading at Southern Water.
‘After a few minutes, the stunt was over and Lawrence proceeded to take part in the event as planned.’
Earlier this year Mark Thurston, CEO of Anglican Water, was subjected to a citizen’s arrest on his way to work.
In a separate incident, an attempt was also made to detain the boss of Thames Water, Chris Weston.
