British police arrest climate and environmental protesters at almost three times the global average, according to researchers at the University of Bristol.
The highest proportion of arrested protesters was found in Australia, where one in five people were arrested by police. The UK followed with 17%. This is much higher than the international average of 6.3%.
The report, led by the University of Bristol, is the first to examine global statistics on this form of protest. As new anti-demonstration laws are enacted, more countries appear to be criminalizing and suppressing protests to keep them in check.
crackdown
To curb this, non-violent protesters were sentenced to long prison terms. For example, many climate activists have been sent to prison in the UK this year, with the longest sentence being five years.
Researchers have identified the main methods used to criminalize and repress climate and environmental protests.
This includes introducing anti-protest laws. Criminalization of groups Introduction of new crimes; Make punishments for existing crimes more stringent. strengthening police forces; Provides impunity to police officers when they harm activists. Protests are also being criminalized through prosecutors and courts.
The report’s lead author is Dr Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer in International Public and Social Policy at the University of Policy Studies.
They said: “This research provides important information about how the growing pursuit of climate and environmental resistance is being addressed globally. “Our evidence clearly shows a global crackdown on liberal democracies and dictatorships.”
regressive
Rather than taking action on these issues, national policy focuses on punishing dissent for indifference to climate and environmental damage. “It also represents an authoritarian move inconsistent with the ideals of a vibrant civil society in liberal democracies,” they added.
Earlier this year, Michel Forst, the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention, expressed “serious concerns” about the UK’s “increasingly harsh crackdown” on environmental protests.
They particularly highlighted the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023, which introduced the offense of “public nuisance”, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“Prior to these legislative developments, members of the public had rarely been imprisoned for peaceful protest in the UK since the 1930s.” They added, calling the new law “regressive.”
This author
Catherine Early is a freelance environmental journalist and senior reporter. ecologist. Find her on BlueSky @catearly.bsky.social.
