Insulate Britain activists escaped jail after M25 and London roadblocks

Two isolate britain supporters were given suspended sentences at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday (November 12) for taking part in Insulate Britain’s 2021 campaign of non-violent civil resistance, demanding the UK government insulate Britain’s cold and leaky homes. A campaign that was later described as prescient by some commentators.

Isolate Britain: freed from prison

Biff Whipster and Andrew Worlsey, who had two previous criminal charges each in relation to three separate acts during the campaign, were sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for a year and ordered to pay £156 costs.

There were both took part in the barricade On 27 September 2021 at Junction 14, M25 Poyle Junction. Biff Whipster also attended a roadblock on Upper Thames Street on 25 October 2021, and Andrew Worsley attended a roadblock on the M4 near Heathrow on 1 October 2021.

During the hearing, Judge Grout confirmed that he had read a letter Biff Whipster sent to the court explaining his reasons for changing his plea. The letter stated that Biff had no regrets about joining the campaign and that he viewed taking action with Insulate Britain as follows:

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do the right thing and achieve more than I could as an individual in the face of this existential crisis that engulfs us.

The judicial system is broken

Biff wrote that he joined Insulate Britain:

After carefully considering science and the life-ending chaos that will occur on our path; because the likelihood of such protests being effective in the run-up to COP26 was slim. I thought that if Insulate Britain did not impact COP26, I would at least be able to speak in court in front of those who work for our judicial system, thus maintaining a critical and important position as a ‘check and balance’. against perverted political leadership.

Before embarking on this journey, I trusted that the judicial system would, in due course, turn the spotlight on the bigger culprits: those in Westminster, lobbyists and greed-fuelled tax evaders. Boardrooms across the country complicit in putting profit ahead of a livable planet.

I was naive… I have now learned first hand that the law is not designed to protect our future in the face of this crisis and is therefore not ‘fit for purpose’.

Judge Grout asked if Biff had plans to protest again, and Biff replied:

I can’t say what I’ll be doing 10 years from now when we’re all fighting over food in supermarkets. Even the people in this courtroom might be fighting… but I’m not planning anything right now.

Multiple actions in 2021

52 people participated in the action on M25 on September 27, 2021:

Many of them will stand trial at Woolwich Crown Court in the coming weeks.

Many Insulate Britain activists had already been prosecuted for the M4 roadblock on 1 October 2021. Steve Pritchard was sentenced to five weeks in prison for his role in the action and his refusal as a matter of conscience to stop participating in subversive acts:

Actions on 25 October 2021 involved 61 activists blocking roads in three London locations (Upper Thames Street, Bishopsgate and Limehouse Causeway) and marked the resumption of the campaign after a 10-day break:

It resulted in the arrest of 53 people.

Later that day, then transport minister Grant Shapps announced that National Highways had obtained an interim injunction from the court to ban protest activities obstructing traffic, under the threat of imprisonment and unlimited fines. This was of course directed at Insulate Britain.

Insulate Britain trials continue

In the 21 Insulate Britain jury trials to date on public nuisance charges, four cases have resulted in a hung jury, two cases have resulted in acquittals, twelve cases have resulted in guilty verdicts and three cases have been adjourned. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) requested retrials in three cases where the jury failed to reach a majority verdict.

CPS chose to summon a total of 56 supporters to answer at least 201 public nuisance charges in approximately 45 jury trials; Additional retrials are scheduled for June 2025. These cases are at Inner London, Hove, Lewes, Reading, and now Woolwich Crown Courts.

Featured image and additional images via Insulate Britain