EGO WARRIORS
Extinction Rebellion warns 400 activists may SUE cops and get compensation after court rules London protest ban unlawful
EXTINCTION Rebellion has warned that 400 activists may sue the Metropolitan Police - and be given compensation - after winning a legal challenge over a London-wide protest ban.
Police imposed a ban across the capital last month after the eco-warrior's Autumn Uprising action saw more than 1,800 climate change activists get arrested over a fortnight.
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The ban was implemented under made under Section 14 of the Public Order Act at 9pm on October 14 and it and lasted until 6pm on October 18.
During that time more than 400 activists were arrested.
Bindmans, the law firm representing Extinction Rebellion have warned the Met now faces claims for false imprisonment from those who were arrested after the ban was imposed.
Two senior High Court judges ruled the decision to impose the ban, which prohibited any assembly of more than two people, made, was "unlawful".
Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Chamberlain said yesterday announcing their judgement the Met had no power to impose the ban because the Act does not cover "separate assemblies".
Lord Justice Dingemans said: "Separate gatherings, separated both in time and by many miles, even if coordinated under the umbrella of one body, are not a public assembly within the meaning of ... the Act.
"The XR Autumn Uprising intended to be held from October 14 to 19 was not therefore a public assembly ... therefore the decision to impose the condition was unlawful because there was no power to impose it under ... the Act."
'MAXIMUM DISRUPTION'
The judges did note there are powers within the Act that may be used lawfully to "control future protests which are deliberately designed to 'take police resources to breaking point'" - one of XR's stated aims.
Jules Carey, a solicitor from Bindmans, said outside court: "This judgement is a timely reminder to those in authority facing a climate of dissent; the right to protest is a long standing fundamental right in a democratic society that should be guarded and not prohibited by overzealous policing."
Tobias Garnett, a human rights lawyer who works with Extinction Rebellion's legal strategy team, said they were "delighted" with the ruling and said it shows there was an "unprecedented and unlawful infringement on the right to protest".
Ellie Chowns, Green MEP for the West Midlands, who was arrested in Trafalgar Square and was one of those who brought the legal challenge, branded the ban as "disproportionate and dangerous".
Last month it was revealed series of marches, blockades and "glue-ins" hit the Met with a £21m bill.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said about 21,000 cops had been forced to work 12-hour shifts, and one told her they'd worked 45 hours over three days.
The climate change group's tactics are to cause "maximum disruption" and to overwhelm the capacity in police custody, including by refusing bail after being arrested.
During the fortnight of protests, activists targeted London City Airport, shut down areas around Parliament and the Bank of England, and blockaded the BBC and Google's HQ.
Towards the end of the fortnight, the group was forced to apologise for an "own goal" after several members clambered on Central London Tubes during rush hour last week, leaving commuters furious and taking matters into their own hands by dragging them down.
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A tree surgeon also clambered up Big Ben dressed as Boris Johnson, forcing cops to spend hours up the tower before bringing him down.
The Met used Section 14 of the Public Order Act initially to keep the protest action to Trafalgar Square, but following "continued breaches" of the order officers had moved in to clear the area.
The force said 1,832 people were arrested during the protests, and more than 150 were charged with offences.
The Met Police said they were disappointed with today's ruling and that they would consider their next steps "carefully">
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: ""I want to be clear; we would not and cannot ban protest.
"The condition at the centre of this ruling was specific to this particular protest, in the particular circumstances at the time.
"Nevertheless, this case highlights that policing demonstrations like these, within the existing legal framework, can be challenging."
Who are XR?
Now a global movement, Extinction Rebellion was formed in October 2018 with three main demands.
The first calls for the government to declare a climate emergency - which the UK and hundreds of local councils have now done.
They are also calling for carbon emissions to be reduced to zero by 2025.
The current Government and the Liberal Democrats have pledged to make the cuts by 2050, while Labour and Green Parties have committed to slashing emission by 2030.
XR's third goal is to create a citizens' assembly for apolitical decisions to be taken about climate change.
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Extinction Rebellion protester climbs Big Ben dressed as Boris Johnson with giant banner
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