Summarised by Centrist
In the UK, Roger Hallam, co-founder of Just Stop Oil, has been sentenced to five years in prison for orchestrating motorway protests in 2022 that caused over 50,000 hours of vehicle delays. Four other activists received four-year sentences.
There has not been a protest on the M25 motorway since 2022, when it became clear that there were likely going to be significant consequences to the perpetrators.
Five Just Stop Oil protesters (known as the WholeTruthFive on social media), including co-founder Roger Hallam, have been jailed for their roles in organising the motorway blockades in November 2022.
Hallam received a five-year sentence, while Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin were each sentenced to four years.
The protests involved 45 people who climbed platforms over the motorway and caused significant disruption, including over 50,000 hours of vehicle delays, and affected more than 700,000 vehicles. The economic cost was estimated at £765,000 (NZD$1.65m), with an additional £1.1m (NZD$2.4m) cost to the Metropolitan Police. A police officer was also injured during the demonstrations.
The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward highlighted the extensive planning and organisation behind the protests.
Judge Christopher Hehir noted the defendants had crossed the line from concerned campaigners to fanatics. Addressing Hallam, Judge Hehir said: “You are the theoretician, the ‘ideas’ man… ‘In my judgement you sit at the very highest level of the conspiracy.”
Critics described the sentences as “judicial thuggery,” calling for continued peaceful protests in the face of climate crises.
