In a significant escalation of the UK government’s crackdown on civil liberties, five members of the environmental group Just Stop Oil have been handed severe prison sentences for their involvement in a non-violent protest. The activists were convicted of “conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” a recently introduced offence under laws passed by the Conservative government. Among them, Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and Insulate Britain, received the longest sentence, marking the harshest punishment for peaceful protest in the UK’s history.
Hallam, along with Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and 22-year-old Cambridge student Cressie Gethin, was found guilty last week for their roles in planning a protest that disrupted London’s motorways over four days in 2022. Despite not participating in the protest itself, Hallam was sentenced to five years in prison, while the four other members received four-year sentences. These punishments, particularly for non-violent action, are being viewed as extreme and disproportionate, sparking widespread concern among civil liberties advocates and environmentalists.
Sentences compared to violent offences
The severity of these sentences is underscored by a disturbing comparison to other crimes. The average prison sentence for sexual offences, including rape, is five and a half years; for robbery, it is four years; and for violence against the person, it averages 1.7 years. These figures highlight the punitive nature of the sentences handed to the Just Stop Oil activists, which many consider an attempt to suppress climate activism and discourage future protests.
Hallam’s defence centered on the fact that he merely gave a speech advocating for civil disobedience as a form of effective climate activism, rather than directly participating in the planning or execution of the motorway protests. Despite this, his sentence was the longest, suggesting that his role as a prominent figure in the environmental movement may have been a significant factor in the harsh punishment. Gethin, the youngest of the group and still a student, is one of the most striking examples of the disproportionate sentences, as she now faces four years in prison for her involvement.
Infiltrated zoom call and media involvement
The case against the activists largely rested on evidence gathered from a Zoom call where the five discussed recruiting volunteers and planning direct-action protests aimed at halting new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. Their goal was to create “the biggest disruption in modern British history” to draw attention to the climate crisis. However, this meeting was infiltrated by a journalist from The Sun, who secretly recorded the conversation and later handed it over to the police.
In court, Gethin passionately defended her actions, explaining that her motivation stemmed not from personal beliefs but from the scientific reality that “Earth’s life-support systems are breaking down due to human activities.” She expressed deep regret that such drastic action was necessary but stood by her decision, asserting that it was the most effective option available to her and others.
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Judicial crackdown on climate defenders
The judge presiding over the trial acknowledged that “some” of the concerns raised by Just Stop Oil were shared by many but criticized the activists for crossing the line from concerned citizens to “fanatics.” Crucially, the court denied the defendants the opportunity to present evidence about the climate crisis that could have contextualized their actions. Hallam attempted to introduce a 250-page dossier of scientific research, but the judge dismissed it as irrelevant. Hallam was also threatened with arrest if he continued to reference the catastrophic consequences of climate change during his testimony.
This restriction on the defendants’ ability to explain their motivations in court is part of a broader, troubling trend in the UK’s legal system. Increasingly, activists are being barred from discussing the causes behind their protests in court, a move that many argue undermines their right to a fair trial. Three activists from Insulate Britain are currently serving jail time after being prohibited from speaking about fuel poverty, the climate crisis, and the history of civil disobedience during their court appearances.
International condemnation and concerns over Civic freedoms
Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, expressed his alarm following the sentencing, stating: “Today is a dark day for peaceful environmental protest in the UK. This sentence should shock the conscience of any member of the public. It should also put all of us on high alert on the state of civic rights and freedoms in the United Kingdom.” Forst warned that such rulings set a dangerous precedent not only for environmental protests but for any form of peaceful dissent that might conflict with the government’s interests.
The sentencing of these five Just Stop Oil members marks a critical moment in the UK’s response to environmental activism. It raises serious questions about the balance between maintaining public order and protecting the right to protest, particularly in the context of the growing urgency surrounding climate action. As the climate crisis intensifies, the criminalization of peaceful protest and the suppression of dissent appear to be on the rise, leaving many activists and citizens questioning the future of civil liberties in the UK.
