Green activism or public threat? UK cracks down on environmental groups

In the UK, an ongoing crackdown on environmental activists is becoming ever tighter. Those who cause “public nuisance” by sitting on a road to block it, or spraying paint on a building or work of art can now be punished not by a simple fine, but a prison sentence of up to 10 years. It’s part of the 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. Over the past three years, more than 3,000 members of Just Stop Oil and other groups have been arrested. The British government has justified this crackdown by saying that the groups’ actions cost tens of millions of pounds in public spending every year. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.