Forty-Five Climate Activists ‘Treated As Terrorists’

Dozens of environmental activists have been referred to the Home Office’s anti-terrorism program.

Public bodies such as councils, schools and universities have a duty to make referrals to the Prevent program when they consider a person to be at risk of radicalization.

At least 45 activists were referred to Prevent over environmental extremism between April 2016 and March last year, a freedom of information request from The Times shows.

When people are referred to Prevent the police assess whether or not they need more comprehensive intervention through a program called Channel. The Home Office said at least one environmental activist was of sufficient concern to need this.

Prevent was established in 2003 and the requirements for reporting to it are laid down in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

But the process has been criticized as heavy-handed by bodies such as the Muslim Council of Britain. The organization has noted a number of young people were referred for using common and harmless religious terms.

Environmental direct action came to the fore last year as Extinction Rebellion activists shut down central London in April as part of a series of protests. Hundreds of activists were arrested.

Dramatic footage on social media showed protesters being hauled from the top of London Underground trains at Canning Town station.

Green Party politicians have reacted with serious concern to the news that significant numbers of environmental activists have been referred to an anti-terrorism program.

Read rest at The Times