XR trial collapses after CPS fails to inform arresting officer of trial date
Five Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists have had all the charges against them dropped after it emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to inform the arresting officer of the trial date, meaning he was on holiday when it began.
The protestors were accused of gluing themselves to the concourse between London City Airport and its Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in October. They were due to face trial at the City of London Magistrates’ Court today (January 28).
Deputy District Judge Vincent McDade said: “There has been an abject failure by the CPS to ensure that this case has been properly managed.
“Had the CPS acted efficiently and warned the witness as soon as possible after the case management hearing on November 7, this matter would proceed today with that witness giving live evidence.”
According to the Daily Telegraph, Judge McDade said the officer was needed from the outset as a “vital witness to establish the lawfulness or otherwise of the arrests”, and that, under the circumstances, he had “no option but to dismiss all matters against all defendants”.
Nearly 8,000 Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers were deployed during last October’s two-week XR action in the capital with 21,000 asked to work 12-hour shifts for part of the fortnight.
A total of 1,828 protesters were arrested with widespread disruption on roads and transport networks.
Policing the event cost at least £25 million, including £3.5million for overtime, just under £6 million for officers who were drafted in from 38 other forces in England and Wales, and £11.8 million staffing costs.
An earlier protest in April costs at least £16 million and saw a further 1,148 activists arrested.
