‘I’ve never realised how awkward a citizen’s arrest can be until I watched this video’

Eight women dressed in red trap the CEO of Anglian Water and keep him detained for nearly an hour on his morning commute.

Approaching Mark Thurston on a dark Autumnal morning the activists from Citizen’s Arrest Network form a human chain to block his path.

They chant: ‘The charge is public nuisance and we believe you’re on your way to commit more.’

The women approached Thurston to make the citizen’s arrest at Coulsdon South station in south London at 7.04am on Wednesday.

In footage of the event, Thurston is heard saying: ‘Your colleagues tried to do this to me the other day up at my office.’

It was daylight when British Transport Police officers called by the women to arrest the CEO and escort him away. Thurston was seen hopping in a cab.

The group accused him of up to three counts of public nuisance focusing on environmental damage and illegal sewage spills.

Thurston was approached last week, along with seven other water bosses across the UK to hand them evidence dossiers. The dossiers outlined the damage that their water pollution and its effects.

In this instance, the police were called to Anglian Water HQ but did not turn up and no official arrests were made.

Anglian Water supplies and recycles water to more than six million domestic and business customers in east England and Hartlepool. It is the largest water company in England and Wales by geographic area.

The citizen’s arrest comes days after Anglian Water were given approval to raise bills over the cap initially set by Ofwat. This is in addition to the already agreed 19% increase that Anglian Water users have seen this year so far.

Isobel Rock who made the citizen’s arrest said: ‘I’m here to hold Mark Thurston to account for the crimes Anglian Water is committing everyday against our environment and pockets.

‘These water companies are ignoring environmental protections and are focused on shareholder profit making over public safety or keeping bills affordable.

‘Our water is being polluted by these companies every day and continues to be, despite public uproar. And now our bills are set to increase once again, passing the buck back on to customers.

‘Meanwhile Anglian Water made a profit of nearly £5m last year, the CEO is set to make £700k in with his salary, despite the bonus ban, and pay shareholders millions. All while Anglian has a huge debt that we’re paying for.

‘When are those responsible going to start paying for the damage they create to our environment?’

Since Mark Thurston was appointed CEO in July 2024, the company has faced a £62.8m fine for a serious breach in how they managed its sewage works.

The British Transport Police said: ‘Officers were called to Coulsdon South railway station at around 7am yesterday (15 October) following reports that a man wasn’t being allowed to travel by members of the public. Officers attended and the members of the public dispersed.’

Metro contacted Anglian Water for comment and they said they will not be providing any quote.

The Citizen’s Arrest Network has also been contacted for further comment.