Top Posts
Report: Nigeria, others may lose $300 billion, 49m...
Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics
Nigeria insurers prepare to global delegates on climate...
Energy Dept. asks employees not to use words...
Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies
Borno govt, NGOs demand funding on climate change...
Lagos rolls two-year flood plan to integrate lakes,...
UN official says climate change displaces up to...
UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...
Ahead of COP30 conference, new national climate plans...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Just Stop Oil activist jailed for six months for taking part in slow march

by admineconai December 17, 2023
written by admineconai December 17, 2023
620

A climate activist, Stephen Gingell, 57 has reportedly been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to taking part in a peaceful slow march protest on a London road.

The sentence handed to Gingell is said to be the first jailing under a new law that critics say makes anyone walking in a road liable for prosecution for “interference with key national infrastructure”.

Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023 bans any act that prevents newspaper printing presses, power plants, oil and gas extraction or distribution sites, harbours, airports, railways or roads “from being used or operated to any extent”, with a potential penalty of 12 months in jail.

Gingell, who is a father of three from Manchester, was one of about 40 supporters of Just Stop Oil who spent about 30 minutes marching on Holloway Road in north London at about 4pm on 12 November, the climate campaign group said.

According to reports he pleaded guilty to breach of section 7 at a hearing that same month at Wimbledon magistrates court. On Thursday, his case was transferred to Manchester magistrates court, where he was sentenced to six months.

Read also: Cop28 president says his firm will keep investing in oil

Just Stop Oil has been campaigning since 2022 for the UK government to stop all new fossil fuel production. The campaign’s “guerrilla tactics” were cited by the Home Office when it introduced the Public Order Act’s tough new anti-protest measures to parliament.

The Police started using section 7 to tackle Just Stop Oil’s protests at the end of October, arresting 60 people taking part in a march in Parliament Square. In a campaign of slow march protests carried out by the group between then and 4 December, 470 of the group’s supporters were arrested 630 times, with about half of those arrests under the new law.

A spokesperson for the campaign was quoted as saying that section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, a law drafted by the fossil fuel lobby, was introduced in April by Priti Patel, and covers ‘interference with the use or operation of key national infrastructure’. According to him, “It seems this government has now made walking down the road, walking on the public highway an illegal act that is worthy of imprisonment”.

“How many fathers will be imprisoned before those planning to kill us are stopped? New oil and gas will see millions upon millions lose their homes, livelihoods and lives. Protected by the government, by failed politicians, by the police, those committing genocide continue to walk free, those protesting the killings are banged up. Whose side are you on?”

The human rights organisation Liberty criticised Gingell’s sentencing.

Reacting, Katy Watts, who is a lawyer at Liberty, said: “It is shocking to see such harsh sentences handed down to protesters. This is yet another unnecessary and draconian law introduced by a government that is hell-bent on discouraging people from standing up for what they believe in. It is a clear attempt to silence people and for the government to hide from all accountability.

Speaking further, she said “Protest is a fundamental right, not a gift from the state. Government should be protecting our right to protest, not criminalising it.”

Story was adapted from the Guardian.

ActivistClimate changeJailMarch
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Cop28 president says his firm will keep investing in oil
next post
Climate groups commence legal actions against Rosebank North Sea oil project

Related Posts

Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics

October 3, 2025

Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies

October 1, 2025

UN official says climate change displaces up to...

September 30, 2025

UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...

September 30, 2025

China announces plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions...

September 25, 2025

China locks down as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears...

September 24, 2025

Trump says climate change ‘greatest con Job in...

September 24, 2025

PERILS sets final industry loss estimate for 2024...

September 22, 2025

Guterres says 1.5C climate warming goal could fail

September 22, 2025

Australia sets 62-70% GHG emission reduction target by...

September 22, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World