Nine Women Arrested For Planning To Disrupt The King’s Coronation Launch Legal Action Against The Metropolitan Police

A group of women who were arrested on suspicion of planning to disrupt the King’s Coronation while attending an animal campaigning seminar miles away from the royal celebration, have launched legal action against the Metropolitan Police.

The nine women aged between 20 and 64 were attending a non-violent workshop nearly five miles away from the King’s Coronation when they were arrested on ‘conspiracy to cause a public nuisance’, subjected to a full body search and detained for up to 14 hours.

Despite being part of a heavily publicised workshop run by Animal Rising – the non-violent social change group – the woman say the arresting officers suggested they were part of a campaign group, Just Stop Oil, who use the same building.

The Metropolitan Police state it was acting on ‘intelligence’, which suggested that protesters from Just Stop Oil were planning to protest and cause disruption at the Coronation. Lawyers at Hodge Jones & Allen, which has bought the claim on behalf of the women, argue there was ‘no intelligence linking the women or Animal Rising to Just Stop Oil.’

The legal action brought on behalf of the mixed group of medical professionals, students, and teachers claims the women who had little to no experience of protesting or campaigning were unlawfully arrested, falsely imprisoned, and subjected to assault and battery on May 6 2023. Any force used during unlawful arrest or detention constitutes battery.

Following the Metropolitan Police’s denial of any wrongdoing, the women have launched a CrowdJustice page to fund legal action against the force.

The regular training day was due to teach the women about non-violent direct action and how to de-escalate interactions with police during future protests for animal protection and had been publicised online weeks prior to the event, explains course trainer Louise Hillwood.

Louisa Hillwood, who has launched a CrowdJustice page to fund the legal action, said: “I was in utter disbelief when around fifteen to twenty – mainly male – officers came into the room shouting ‘police, police’ and proceeded to separate and arrest us. I completely froze. We had held this workshop multiple times in the past with no issues.

“The arresting officers stated we were members of Just Stop Oil, and I remember laughing at the time because I thought it was so absurd. It was a non-violent workshop, ironically about how to interact positively with the police, for people interested in getting involved in animal protection campaigning. We weren’t planning to leave the room that day, let alone disrupt the King’s Coronation, which had already started miles down the road.

“They searched all of our belongings and led us outside, handcuffed. It was humiliating to be escorted like that into the back of a police van, where we spent many hours outside a station before we were taken in for questioning. Most of the women had not interacted with the police in this way before, let alone been arrested, so I felt a heavy responsibility to try to reassure everyone and help them understand their rights.”

Following the arrest, the women were taken to Brixton and Stoke Newington police stations, where they were questioned and held in cells until they were released, without a phone, between nine and 14 hours later.

Each woman remained under investigation until the end of August 2023, when they were informed that no further action would be taken due to ‘insufficient evidence’ and that their phones would be returned.

Lauren, a medical communications specialist who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I had never been arrested before. It sounds naive now, but I always assumed the police were there to help and keep us safe.

“Being released at night, alone as a woman, without a phone and having to find your way home to the other side of London is not right. Luckily, I had a partner who helped me, but I feel the police failed us.

“I had to take time off following the arrest as I was not myself. I felt hopeless and was fixated on the events of that day, replaying them over in my head. It was all-consuming. Gradually, I started to feel better, less anxious, but it was a traumatising experience.

“We are years on from that day, but now, when I see a police officer, I feel intimidated and uncomfortable. To be told the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence feels as if there is a question mark left hovering over our innocence. It is deeply upsetting.”

Susie Labinjoh, head of civil liberties at Hodge Jones & Allen, who are representing the women, said: “There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the women or Animal Rising were party to a conspiracy to cause public nuisance at the Coronation. The vast majority of these women suffered a host of issues following the unlawful arrest, including panic attacks, depression, anxiety and paranoia. Surprisingly, the Metropolitan Police have denied any wrongdoing, so legal action is the only recourse to justice for these innocent women.”

Louisa, a 32 year old primary school teacher from London, added: “I couldn’t work for two weeks after it happened. I couldn’t sleep, and was very tearful and anxious. I was also extremely paranoid about the police watching me and still am to some extent. I used to have a childlike trust in our policing system and believed they would listen to you when you were being honest. I now know I was wrong.

“I believe they should take responsibility for that day and provide some acknowledgement of the trauma we suffered and the truth behind that day. It should never have happened, and we can’t move on until that is acknowledged.”