protest is supposed to be a duty of the police – to enable protest – and yet they were not even allowed to be there.”Ī university lecturer who knows one of those arrested said he believed the use of section 7 for walking down a road was disproportionate for such a peaceful protest. “In this country it’s supposed to be a free country. “Last week, I saw them get to the top of Whitehall and as soon as they put their feet on the road swarms of police just arrested them – two days running. She said the law had narrowed down what they were able to do as protest. Rachel Payne, 73, said she had already been jailed for her part in Just Stop Oil’s campaign during last year’s Cop27 climate talks. A couple of police officers hovered nearby.Īsked why they thought so few had come, one demonstrator said: “Everyone’s been arrested, everyone’s got court.” On Wednesday, just half a dozen people turned up at Trafalgar Square, with only three wearing orange bibs with the group’s insignia. The widespread use of section 7 appears to have taken its toll on Just Stop Oil’s latest campaign of protest. Just Stop Oil said: “They’re imprisoning peaceful protesters, protecting the real criminals, and licensing more than 100 new oil and gas projects while everything burns.” We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. For more information see our Privacy Policy. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. JSO data shows at least 276 people have been charged: at least 125 were charged with blocking key national infrastructure under section 7 and 125 with the lesser offence of wilful obstruction of the highway. The rest have been released on police bail. Scotland Yard said 630 arrests had been made of Just Stop Oil protesters since 30 October, and 328 people went on to be charged. It’s shocking to see hundreds of young protesters criminalised simply for standing up for what they believe in.” The staggering number of people arrested in recent weeks, many under this new legislation, shows just how sweeping and dangerous these powers are. Jun Pang, a policy and campaigns officer for Liberty, said: “We all have the right to make our voices heard on the issues that matter to us. “Like I was a murderer or something, they just wanted me to feel bad.” One of the officers said: ‘Why didn’t you have it with you?’ I said: ‘I didn’t expect to be held for 50 hours in a cell.’ And the officer said: ‘What, after what you have done?’ “I remember asking for my medication, and I didn’t get it,” she said. She was charged under section 7 of the act after 24 hours in custody, but held for another day-and-a-half in custody before being taken to court. “I consider that I was illegally imprisoned over the three nights of that weekend and will be taking a case of wrongful imprisonment,” the student said.Īnother 19-year-old student who was arrested and also cannot be named for legal reasons, was held for 50 hours in a London police cell, from a Monday morning to Wednesday at 1pm. The student was held for a further three nights in a prison cell, according to testimony given to the Guardian. He was bailed by the court, and should have been released. After the first night in prison, he appeared by video link for a court appearance. The 19-year-old student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was held in a London prison for four nights after his arrest under section 7. The offence carries a prison sentence of up to 12 months. Police are using new powers to make the mass arrests under section 7 of the Conservative government’s Public Order Act 2023, which bans any action that “interferes with the use or operation of any key national infrastructure”.Īccording to data gathered by Just Stop Oil and not disputed by the Metropolitan police, almost half of the arrests were carried out under section 7. The protests over the past four weeks coincided with the British government confirming in the king’s speech its plans to grant new North Sea oil and gas licences every year. The student is considering a case of false imprisonment. The protests involve slow marching along roads and are a form of peaceful civil resistance analogous to the “freedom” rides in the US in 1961, when individuals protested against segregated public transport, says Just Stop Oil.Įvidence gathered by the Guardian over the last four weeks reveals some people have been held in police custody for long periods after arrest.Ī 23-year-old was arrested within five minutes of joining a demonstration on 13 November, and held for 56 hours in custody before being presented to court, according to his testimony to the Guardian.Ī 19-year-old student was held for three nights in a London prison despite being given bail by a magistrates court.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |