There are several activists from Oxfordshire who have been arrested while protesting in recent years.
Many of these protesters were arrested in relation to Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain demonstrations.
These are the people who have been arrested and charged:
On October 7 2019, a pensioner from Oxford was one of 23 people arrested at an Extinction Rebellion protest.
Sarah Lasenby was part of a large group who were blocking Embankment with a car, close to the Ministry of Defence building, and attaching themselves to a fake missile.
Retired social worker Ms Lasenby said: "For 21 years my main concern has been to help get rid of UK nuclear weapons.
"I am still keen to do this but once I came across XR (Extinction Rebellion) I was so relieved to have something I could do about the ghastly state we have got our planet in.
"The directness of the students with statements 'there is no planet B' and 'it is our futures' has driven me on.
"The whole thing is so urgent that it is imperative the Government should take serious actions and put pressure on other states and global powers to radically reduce the use of fossil fuels even if this means we need to reduce our comfort at home and so much flying.
"The future life of the planet is so important. So I protest with XR peace."
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On October 10 2019, Wantage vicar Tim Hewes was arrested in the capital.
Retired dental surgeon Rev Hewes was arrested during demonstrations calling for climate action.
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On October 14 2019 an Oxford fellow was arrested alongside 40 others from the county.
A statement from an Oxford spokesperson for the group stated that Oxford resident Tom Sinclair was one of the arrested parties, having been among those blocking traffic outside St Paul's Cathedral.
Mr Sinclair, a tutor and fellow of Wadham College, said: "I have read the science and I feel it is my duty to stand up now to try to avert the famines, migration crises, and wars that is says are coming our way if we don’t act now.
"I would much rather be at work than sitting in the rain, getting arrested. But I can’t see any other way."
On October 13 2020, Oxford resident Jessica Upton was one of 21 people charged police after a ten-hour protest against the high-speed rail line between London and the West Midlands.
Activists from Oxfordshire, who travelled to the HS2 compound at the village of West Hyde and spent nearly ten hours blocking the gates to the site.
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On March 8 2022, Sarah Rose, of Morell Avenue, appeared at Central London Magistrates’ Court.
The court found Rose attended the XR demonstration on August 23 at the junction of Long Acre and St Martin's Lane in the capital.
Court documents state that Rose ‘took part in a public assembly and knowingly failed to comply with a condition imposed by a senior police officer’.
The condition being that the demonstration must finish before 7pm.
The 57-year-old was found guilty and handed a conditional discharg for six months.
She was also made to pay a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £200 to the Crown Prosecution Service.
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On March 16 2022, the Metropolitan Police announced that 56 people are due to appear in court after being charged following a Met investigation into Insulate Britain protests on the M25.
13 people were charged with two counts of causing a public nuisance at Junction 14 of the M25 on September 13 2021 and at Junction 25 of the M25 on September 15 2021.
They are due to appear at Stratford Magistrates' Court on Friday, April 22.
The Oxfordshire residents who have been charged include:
- Sue Spencer-Longhurst, 69, of Abbey Road in Oxford
- Meredith Williams, 51, of Helen Street in Abingdon
- Michelle Siobhan Charlesworth, 55, of Villeboys Close in Abingdon
Fifty people were charged with causing a public nuisance at Junction 14 of the M25 on September 27 2021.
They are due to appear at Stratford Magistrates' Court on Friday, April 29.
The Oxfordshire residents who have been charged include:
- Tim William Hewes, 71, of New Road in Wantage
- Anne Taylor, 72, of Walton Street in Oxford
The Met Police said some people have been charged as part of both investigations and enquiries relating to other protests are ongoing.
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