The case of public nuisance brought against three Just Stop Oil supporters who disrupted the British Open golf tournament in 2023 has been thrown out by Judge Woodhall at Liverpool Crown Court. [1]
Three Just Stop Oil supporters had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance at Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake on 21 July 2023. They told the jury that they took action which included throwing orange powder, letting off a smoke flare and sitting on the golf course to force the Government to end new oil and gas licences. [2]
The three-day tournament would have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people, both on television and at the course with various professional and semi-professional golfers competing to win the trophy and a £3m prize fund.
In dismissing the case the Judge ruled that the disruption caused did not meet the threshold for public nuisance, because of the brevity of the interruption.
The three defendants, George Birch, Noah Crane and Lucy Timlin issued the following statement:
“The actions taken by Just Stop Oil in 2022 and 2023 moved the issuing of new oil and gas licences from an obscure industry talking point to a major political issue. This resulted in the Labour Party ending new oil and gas licensing when it came to power in 2024. We are not guilty of public nuisance, in acting we have helped prevent 4.4 billion barrels of oil being extracted, a major public good. We were part of the most effective anti oil and gas campaign in the UK’s history.”
Commenting on the result the Olympian James Brown said:
“I’m delighted the Court has thrown out this case, these three should be celebrated not put on trial by the state. The impacts of an unravelling climate will not spare sporting events. No matter how many people are watching, or how prestigious the title is. Just Stop Oil is right, to protect sport, to protect all we cherish and love there has to be an end to oil and gas or we lose everything.”
During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Gary Woodhall had warned jurors to ignore a silent protest outside the court, where people sat holding signs that read “jurors have an absolute right to acquit according to their conscience” warning them to set aside feelings or prejudices and sympathy or lack of sympathy.
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said:
“The Crown Prosecution Service has rather overplayed its hand, as it seeks time and time again to bring the most severe charges against Just Stop Oil supporters. Putting on trial those acting in self-defence, those highlighting our plight and failing to try those committing an unspeakable act of criminality by continuing with the carbon economy demonstrates the immorality of the judiciary.”
In 2024 Just Stop Oil successfully won its original demand of ‘no new oil and gas’. Now the courts agree that new oil and gas is unlawful. Just Stop Oil supporters are on the right side of history and nonviolent civil resistance works. Just Stop Oil will once again be stepping into action this April to demand that governments work together to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030. You can help make this happen by signing up for action at juststopoil.org.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is committed to nonviolent direct action to resist the destruction of our communities as a result of climate breakdown. We do not consent to plans that will result in 3C of warming and mass death.
We demand an emergency plan to Just Stop Oil by 2030. Our government must work with other governments to end the extraction and burning of all oil, gas and coal by 2030.
Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.
We take all possible steps to ensure that no-one’s safety is compromised by our actions.
[2] Action press release https://juststopoil.org/2023/07/21/were-on-course-for-collapse-just-stop-oil-disrupt-the-open/
