JUST one in ten members of an eco-anarchist group arrested by cops has been charged – despite protests paralysing large parts of the country.
Environment movement Extinction Rebellion even gives a guide on its website about how to deal with arrest and boasts “most arrests are not taken any further”, with just “ten per cent of people” held due to its protests facing the courts.
The group has seen 700 arrests in the past six months, and since 2019 the clean-up bill for its campaigns has cost the Metropolitan Police £60million.
During one week this April it cost the police £10million to deal with public demonstrations, with 16,000 officers needed to oversee London demos against fossil fuels plus nearly £2million in overtime payments.
Demonstrations by six core groups – Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Animal Rebellion, Insulate Britain, Scientist Rebellion and Tyre Extinguishers – have led to 3,000 arrests in the past six months and millions of pounds in policing costs.