The Government’s adviser on extremism today condemned an ‘instruction manual’ being issued to eco-activists staging fresh action in London.
Ahead of a planned ‘sit-down’ protest to bring chaos to roads outside Government offices in Westminster, activists were being urged to only bring ‘burner phones’.
A 16-page ‘action briefing’ also offered advice on not carrying ‘incriminating’ items, and included a pre-prepared statement to give to police in the event of being arrested.
The handbook was issued by the ‘Defend Our Juries’ group as they continue action against the jailing of climate campaigners and pro-Palestinian demonstrators over recent disruptive protests.
They are targeting both Attorney General Richard Hermer and Lord Walney, the Government’s adviser on extremism, as part of demands to ‘free political prisoners’.
Defend Our Juries claim ‘dozens’ of climate and Gaza campaigners have been ‘gagged and jailed’ in recent months following ‘sham trials or without any trial at all’.
They have raged at the role of Lord Walney, who they claim is ‘working to stop’ juries from acquiting activists, after he penned a major report on political violence and disruption.
The handbook was issued by the ‘Defend Our Juries’ group as they continue action against the jailing of climate campaigners and pro-Palestinian demonstrators
A 16-page ‘action briefing’ offered advice on not carrying ‘incriminating’ items and urged attendees to only bring ‘burner phones’
Lord Walney suggested the ‘extreme protesters’ were adopting tactics ‘usually deployed by hardened criminals’
In his criticism of the ‘action briefing’ being issued by the group over a planned protest today, Lord Walney suggested the ‘extreme protesters’ were adopting tactics ‘usually deployed by hardened criminals’.
He said: ‘This instruction manual for a road block stunt today demanding my sacking and the release of convicted climate vandals gives insight into a well-resourced network adept in tactics like burner phones usually deployed by hardened criminals.
‘The documents shows extreme protestors systematically pushing waves of young people concerned about the climate crisis into our breaking criminal justice system, damaging their lives and putting further pressure on our courts and prisons.’
Supporters of Defend Our Juries were encouraged to take part in ‘direct’ action outside the Attorney General’s office in Westminster this afternoon.
They said they would ‘peacefully sit in the road’ outside the Ministry of Justice for 90 minutes while holding signs commemorating ‘political prisoners’.
In the advice issued to attendees, activists were told to wear ‘dark clothes’ that were ‘smart/tailored, as if going to court’.
‘If possible leave your phone at home or bring a ‘burner’ phone,’ the document stated, advising that these are phones with ‘minimal info on it and no chats etc’.
‘Given that there is no cast-iron guarantee that there will be no arrests, we suggest you don’t bring your main phone,’ the briefing added.
‘Getting your phone seized by the police is inconvenient as the police will hang on to it for months or years, and can compromise others if you have sensitive information on it.’
As well as being advised to bring waterproof jackets and snacks, attendees were told not to carry with them ‘any incriminating bits of paper, sharp items etc’.
The document also revealed how pre-prepared police interview statements would be ‘given out at the general meeting point before the action’.
The briefing suggested Defend Our Juries were expecting some activists to breach bail conditions by joining today’s demonstration.
But they claimed this would ‘only amplify the legitimacy of this campaign and our demand’.
‘If you witness someone being arrested for breaking bail, please support them as best you can,’ the document said.
‘Witness the arrest, call over a photographer to film it.’
Responding to Lord Walney’s comments about their briefing document, Defend Our Juries posted on X/Twitter: ‘In Lord Walney’s most recent public meltdown he helpfully shares our public briefing document and suggests that sitting peacefully in the road is the act of ‘hardened criminals’.’
Lord Walney’s report on political violence and extremism, published in May, called for groups such as Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action to be banned in a similar way to terrorist organisations.
But activists have branded him a ‘lobbyist’ for the arms and oil industry due to his private sector work for the Rud Pedersen Group.
It counts oil and gas companies among its clients and on its website lists ‘security and defence’ as a sector of expertise.
Lord Walney said he applied an ‘objective standard’ when penning his report and pointed to all his non-parliamentary interests being ‘declared as required’.
It was recently reported that his role as the Government’s adviser on extremism is under review, although the Home Office denied claims he had already left the role.
