Prosecutions dropped against UK Uncut protestors
HJA representing 109 protestors whose
case was dropped - solicitor Raj Chada vows to continue fight to
clear the names of remaining 30 protestors
Monday 18th June 2011
Today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has
confirmed that they have dropped the prosecution against 109
protestors arrested at Fortnum & Mason on March 26
2011.
The CPS cited public interest reasons for the
decision to discontinue, in particular the CPS found that in
relation to the 109 Defendants there was a “lack of evidence of
pre-meditation; lack of involvement in the planning and
organisation of the offence.”
The CPS further acknowledged that “any penalty
imposed by the court is likely to be a nominal one.”
It is open to question why it took so long for
this decision to me made; however, the CPS found that “these public
interest factors can only be properly considered after a full
investigation.”
Unfortunately, for some 30 protestors who were
arrested at the same time and in the same building, the prosecution
will continue, with a trial expected to take place later this
year.
Solicitor
Raj Chada, who heads up the Protest Law team at Hodge Jones & Allen
LLP and is representing those arresteded at Fortnum & Mason in
March comments: “Whilst we welcome this decision as a first step,
we will re-double our efforts to ensure that that remaining
Defendants are found not guilty of this politically motivated
charge.”