Four supporters of Insulate Britain have been acquitted for their actions during the organization’s 2021 campaign of nonviolent civil resistance, which aimed to pressure the UK government to insulate cold and leaky homes across the country. Emily Brocklebank, Ruth Cook, Ana Heyatawin, and Iain Webb were charged with common law public nuisance for blocking the M25 at J14 near Heathrow on 27 September 2021 and were on trial at Woolwich Crown Court before Judge C Grout.
During the trial, Judge Grout allowed the defendants to speak about the climate crisis in their closing speeches, a departure from earlier Insulate Britain public nuisance trials under Judge Silas Reid. The defendants shared their motivations for joining Insulate Britain, expressing concerns for their families in the face of expected climate impacts, highlighting the poor state of Britain’s housing stock, and emphasizing the need for civil resistance when governments fail to adequately address impending challenges.
Ruth Cook, a 72-year-old grandmother and director of a small training company from Somerset, spoke passionately about her fears regarding climate breakdown, drawing on her experience working for a charity providing food aid to refugees in Greece and reflecting on the recent flooding that had affected England and Wales. She raised important questions about the future of areas like Woolwich as sea levels rise and existing infrastructure may no longer be able to protect against flooding.
Following a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for just an hour before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty for the defendants. Cook expressed pride in Insulate Britain’s efforts, emphasizing the group’s commitment to raising awareness about the urgent need for better insulation in homes to combat cold-related deaths and energy poverty.
The trial outcome adds to a mixed record for Insulate Britain supporters facing public nuisance charges, with a combination of hung juries, acquittals, guilty verdicts, and deferred cases across multiple trials. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has sought retrials in cases where juries failed to reach a majority verdict, underscoring the ongoing legal battles faced by those involved in the organization’s protests.
Looking ahead, the CPS has summoned a significant number of Insulate Britain supporters to answer charges of public nuisance in upcoming jury trials scheduled through June 2025 in various Crown Courts. The continued legal proceedings highlight the deep-seated commitment of activists like Cook and her fellow defendants to push for meaningful action on climate change and housing issues in the UK.
This article was rewritten by Catherine Early, a freelance environmental journalist and chief reporter for The Ecologist. Follow her on Twitter at @Cat_Early76 for more insights on environmental issues and activism.
