Nine Women Sue Met Police Over Coronation Arrests Near Animal Rising Workshop

Nine women arrested during a non-violent Animal Rising workshop ahead of the King’s coronation in May 2023 have launched legal action against the Metropolitan Police. The group, aged between 20 and 64, includes students, medical professionals, and teachers. They were detained for up to 14 hours and subjected to full body searches before being released without charge in August 2023.

The women were attending a workshop about interacting positively with police, held about five miles from the coronation. The Metropolitan Police alleged they were part of Just Stop Oil and planning to disrupt the event. The group’s lawyers state there was no intelligence linking them to the climate protest group.

Detention and Release

Louisa Hillwood, a course trainer at the workshop, said the women were handcuffed, searched, and held in police vans for hours before questioning. She described the experience as humiliating and said most of the women had never been arrested before. Hillwood has set up a CrowdJustice page to fund the legal challenge.

One woman, a medical communications specialist who wished to remain anonymous, said she had always assumed police were there to help. She was released late at night without a phone and had to travel across London alone. She said the experience left her feeling failed by the police.

Psychological Impact and Legal Action

The women reported suffering panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and paranoia following their arrests. Susie Labinjoh, head of civil liberties at Hodge Jones & Allen, which is representing the group, said legal action was the only way to seek justice. The Metropolitan Police has denied any wrongdoing and is defending the claim.

The group was told in August 2023 that there was insufficient evidence for further action. Their phones, confiscated during the arrests, were returned at that time. The legal challenge focuses on the police’s claim that they had intelligence linking the women to Just Stop Oil, which the group’s lawyers dispute.

What Happens Next

The case is being heard at the High Court. The Metropolitan Police has not commented further on the ongoing legal proceedings. The women are seeking accountability for what they describe as an unlawful arrest and the psychological harm they endured. The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how police handle pre-emptive arrests during major public events.