Just Stop Oil court case delays ‘undermine faith in criminal justice system’
Protesters who will not be tried until 2025 included a group alleged to have climbed a motorway gantry - Leon Neal/Getty ImagesJust Stop Oil protesters will not be brought to justice for three years because of court delays, prompting warnings that faith in criminal justice is being undermined.The Met Police revealed that 33 protesters arrested for blocking the M25 in November are not listed for trial until 2025, nearly three years after the offence.The protesters included a group alleged to have climbed a gantry on the motorway in what police described as “extremely hazardous” criminality. “This action is grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim that this group may have. This is criminality and we’ll treat it as such,” said Matt Twist, the Met Police Assistant Commissioner.Charges include “conspiracy to intentionally or recklessly cause public nuisance”. A new offence under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, it carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.Howev
Just Stop Oil protesters will not be brought to justice for three years because of court delays, prompting warnings that faith in criminal justice is being undermined.
The Met Police revealed that 33 protesters arrested for blocking the M25 in November are not listed for trial until 2025, nearly three years after the offence.
The protesters included a group alleged to have climbed a gantry on the motorway in what police described as “extremely hazardous” criminality.
“This action is grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim that this group may have. This is criminality and we’ll treat it as such,” said Matt Twist, the Met Police Assistant Commissioner.
Charges include “conspiracy to intentionally or recklessly cause public nuisance”. A new offence under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, it carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
However, with a backlog of more than 60,000 cases in the crown court, more than a quarter are having to wait over a year and more than one in 20 have been delayed by more than two years.
“Sadly, early to mid-2025 is becoming the norm for all manner of short three to five-day trials of serious crime, from public disorder to sexual offences,” said a senior Criminal Bar Association lawyer.
“It undermines faith in the criminal justice system just when the public needs reassurances that alleged offences, once investigated and charged, don’t wait for years.”
These cases come on top of a further 795 members of Just Stop Oil who have been charged since March 2023, as well as another 130 people from other eco protests not linked to the group over the same period.
There are also 24 Just Stop Oil trials listed for 2024. Last week Roger Hallam, a Just Stop Oil leader, urged activists to continue their slow march campaign in an attempt to overwhelm the criminal justice system, telling The Mirror: “We know 3,000 arrests is the point when the judiciary and police start to crack.”
Just Stop Oil has broadened its tactics over recent months, targeting sports events including the World Snooker Championship, the England vs Australia Ashes cricket series and last week Wimbledon, where two protesters ran onto a court and threw shreds of orange paper onto the grass.
Last month, the Met said the Just Stop Oil protests had required it to devote 16,500 officer shifts to policing them at a total cost of about £5.5 million.
“That’s about 150 officers a day during this phase and from my point of view, as someone that cares deeply about crime in London, what I could do with 150 officers preventing robberies or investigating crime or supporting victims, is really significant,” said Mr Twist.
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