UK Court of Appeal rules that climate change activists cannot use beliefs as a defense for criminal damage.

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that climate change activists and other protesters cannot use their "political or philosophical beliefs" as a defence if charged with criminal damage. The judges concluded that protesters cannot claim at trial that they honestly believed a property owner would have consented to damage caused had they been fully aware of its "circumstances", such as the impact of climate change. This ruling may lead to more convictions for those participating in such protests and effectively prevents environmental protesters from using their beliefs about the dangers of climate change as a defence for criminal damage charges.

March 18, 2024
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