Climate protest charges dropped

Criminal charges have been dropped against climate change protesters arrested under a police order later ruled to be unlawful.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said 105 cases were being discontinued against Extinction Rebellion (XR) supporters who were detained during the action in October.

More than 1,800 people were arrested during the XR Autumn Uprising protest, which saw locations around central London, City Airport and the Tube network targeted.

Police initially made use of public order legislation, a section 14 order, to restrict the action to Trafalgar Square, and after repeated breaches, went further, effectively banning XR protests from the capital.

High Court judges ruled that the effective ban was unlawful.

The CPS said that 73 people charged with breaching the section 14 order, 24 charged with a breach and highway obstruction, and eight charged with standalong highway obstruction would face no further action.

So far this year, policing protests by XR has cost the Metropolitan Police £40 million.