In an unprecedented legal move, five Just Stop Oil activists have been handed record-breaking jail sentences, sparking a nationwide debate and drawing support from celebrities like Chris Packham and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, as well as political figures including Labour MP Clive Lewis and Green peer Jenny Jones. Here’s the full story.
Draconian Sentences for Protest
In a landmark case that has ignited a fierce debate over the right to protest and the severity of punishment, five Just Stop Oil activists were sentenced to several years in prison for their roles in planning protests on the M25 motorway. The sentences, described as among the longest ever given for peaceful protest, have drawn widespread condemnation from public figures and raised significant concerns about the future of civil liberties in the UK.
Five-Year Sentence for Hallam
Roger Hallam, co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, received a five-year prison sentence, while his co-defendants, Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin, were each sentenced to four years. The activists were convicted of conspiring to cause a public nuisance by organising protests that saw participants climbing gantries over the M25 in November 2022.
Murdoch Paper Involvement
A journalist working for the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun newspaper had joined the activists’ Zoom call organising the protest and recorded the proceedings. These recordings were then given to the police. Murdoch papers have a long history of climate denialism. Murdoch has financial stakes in several oil and gas companies, and the media mogul has previously argued, “We should approach climate change with great scepticism.”
Packham Condemns Sentences
Environmental campaigner and TV presenter Chris Packham condemned the sentences, calling them “a direct theft of our freedom.” Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court, Packham stated, “Be clear, be very, very clear, this is not just about climate activism. The laws that have been drafted, the injustices that are being wrought, threaten all rights of free speech. We stand here today because our future security may be compromised by the reckless and irresponsible erosion of our human rights, of our fundamental freedoms.”
Calls for Attorney General Meeting
Packham called for a meeting with the newly appointed Attorney General, Richard Hermer, to address what he termed a “grotesque miscarriage of justice.” Other notable figures present at the court echoed his sentiments, including television chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, eco-entrepreneur Dale Vince, Labour MP Clive Lewis, and Green peer Jenny Jones.
Economic Disruption Highlighted
Prosecutors highlighted the significant disruption caused by the protests, which they claimed resulted in an economic cost of at least £765,000 and more than £1.1 million in costs to the Metropolitan Police. The protests allegedly caused over 50,000 hours of vehicle delays, affecting more than 700,000 vehicles and leaving the M25 compromised for more than 120 hours.
Legal Framework Questioned
Despite the prosecution’s arguments against the activists, the severity of the sentences has raised questions about the legal framework used to prosecute the activists. The defendants were convicted under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Criminal Law Act 1977, which critics argue have been increasingly used to stifle dissent.
Chada’s Lament
Raj Chada, representing several defendants, lamented the verdict: “Today, the world was watching to see whether the UK will retain the hallmarks of a civilised society where non-violent direct action protestors will not be imprisoned. Today, we are disappointed.”
Calls for Legislative Review
The sentencing has prompted calls for legislative review and reform. Labour MP Clive Lewis and eco-entrepreneur Dale Vince advocated for reversing laws that protect fossil fuel interests at the expense of civil liberties. Vince, a significant donor to the Labour Party, criticised the laws as protecting “a version of business as usual that continues to damage the climate and harm us all.”
Academic Criticism
The academic community has also criticised the trial and its outcomes. Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, condemned the trial as “a farce” and an “assault on free speech.”
Judge’s Ignorance Highlighted
McGuire told the Guardian, “The judge’s characterisation of climate breakdown as a matter of opinion and belief is completely nonsensical and demonstrates extraordinary ignorance. Similarly, to suggest that the climate emergency is irrelevant in relation to whether the defendants had a reasonable case for action is crass stupidity.”
Uncertain Future for Protests
The future of climate protests in the UK remains uncertain after these historic and draconian sentences. The legal precedent this case sets may deter future activists from participating in similar protests, fearing the severe repercussions.
Public Order vs. Civil Liberties
While the authorities have justified the sentences as necessary to maintain public order, they have also been highly criticised for undermining the fundamental right to peaceful protest.
Potential Impact on Activism
It remains to be seen whether these protests will damage climate activism as the climate catastrophe continues unabated or if the harsh sentencing will galvanise more, possibly more drastic, climate protests.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Vincenzo Lullo.