06 Dec Extinction rebellion protesters appear in court for causing disruption in Oxford Circus
Earlier today three defendants started their trial at the City of London magistrates court for their involvement in the April Extinction Rebellion protests in Oxford Circus.
Anna Hope ,44, a writer from East Sussex was one of the women on trial and was charged with breach of section 14 of the Public Disorder Act 1986 after refusing to comply with the police.
The court heard that Miss Hope was arrested on the 19th April when a police officer approached her and informed her of section 14 which meant that all protesters were to move to Marble Arch or stop protesting. She remained silent and still, and was eventually arrested and taken into police custody.
As Miss Hope was being arrested “We love you, Anna” was heard on the body cam footage from the other protestors.
When giving evidence to the court, Superintendent Duncan McMillan, the bronze commander in charge of operational policing during the protests, said that the grounds of the order were based on the fact that “the rights of the public to operate freely and without disruption outweighed the defendant’s right to protest.”
The defence questioned McMillan’s statement, stating that the seriousness of the disruption was overstated by McMillan and that the arrests were unlawful.
When Miss Hope was called to the stand, she choked up while explaining that she was fearful for her 2 years old daughters’ life due to the threat of climate change.
The case has been adjourned until the 6th December.
