Sixteen people imprisoned for conspiracy to care

11 Just Stop Oil supporters were remanded to prison yesterday, bringing to 16 the number of people who have been imprisoned for demanding an end to new oil and gas. [1]

At Westminster Magistrates Court, 11 Just Stop Oil supporters were sent to prison until a hearing scheduled for December 6th at Southwark Crown Court. They were among 22 people who appeared in court on Tuesday over charges related to occupation of gantries over the M25 on Monday this week. The remaining 11 people were granted conditional bail. [2]

Louise Harris, 24, from St Albans was one of our supporters sent to prison yesterday. Louise was heavily featured in the media on Monday after she issued a defiant and heart felt plea from the top of an M25 motorway gantry asking the government to listen. Prior to taking action she said:

“What we are asking for is a liveable future, but our government are acting like that is a luxury. What we are asking is for the government to listen to all of the world’s leading climate scientists, the United Nations and the International Energy Agency when they say “no new fossil fuels”. Why aren’t they listening? Why aren’t our government doing their lawful duty and protecting their citizens from irreversible climate catastrophe and social collapse? They are driving us even faster towards mass crop failure, starvation, water scarcity and war. This is an act of murder. Why isn’t everybody on the streets? Why isn’t everybody fighting back? Make no mistake – this is an act of self-defence. Join us, before it’s too late.”   

Louise and the other 10 people remanded yesterday join five Just Stop Oil supporters already in prison on remand or serving sentances for taking action to demand that the government halts new oil and gas licences. [3]

Indigo Rumbelow, 28, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, speaking from court yesterday said:

“Right now, while our leaders and politicians at COP27 are deciding just how bad it will be for everyday people, the  courts and justice system are upholding the policies of a criminal government. Our justice system is complicit in treason against people in Britain and around the globe. When judges, magistrate and court staff close their eyes to morality, the biggest crimes in history have been committed.

“Our supporters want to say to everyone currently involved in the justice system, including the police, you have a chance right now to be on the right side of history, to refuse to lock up peaceful people, students, retail workers, and carpenters, and you will be joining the effort to protect lives and uphold law and order.”

Earlier today 11 Just Stop Oil supporters climbed on up to 11 M25 gantries in the third day of disruption on London’s orbital motorway. [4]

This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere. This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.

We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people. Our supporters understand that these are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities.

Notes to editors


[1] Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects. Climate Emergency Fund is Just Stop Oil’s primary funder for recruitment, training, and capacity building.

[2] Remanded on 8th November: Alexander Wilcox, Callum Goode, Catherine Rennie-Nash, Christopher White, Daniel Shaw, Ian Bates, Kerin Matthews, Roger Hallam, Tim Hewes, Jan Goodey and Louise Harris.

Granted bail: Anthony Whitehouse, Aaron Gunning, Amy Rose Friel O’Donnell, Anna Muriel Retallack, Darcy Mitchell, Kai Arne Springorum, Louise Lancaster, Joseph Linhart, Theresa Norton and Rosemary Jackson​​​​​​​.

[3] There are now 16 Just Stop Oil supporters in prison on remand or serving sentances for taking action to demand that the government halts new oil and gas licences. They are Alexander Wilcox, Callum Goode, Catherine Rennie-Nash, Christopher White, Daniel Shaw, Ian Bates, Kerin Matthews, Roger Hallam, Tim Hewes, Jan Goodey, Louise Harris, Joshua Smith, Louis McKechnie, Michelle Charlesworth, Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker. There are also 3 Belgian supporters of Just Stop Oil currently in a Dutch prison for gluing to a painting.

[4] https://juststopoil.org/2022/11/09/just-stop-oil-supporters-return-for-a-third-day-stopping-traffic-on-the-m25-in-multiple-locations/