UK among top nations for arresting climate protesters

British police arrest climate protesters at nearly three times the global average, reflecting a broader crackdown on environmental activism.

Damien Gayle reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Research shows UK police arrest 17% of environmental protesters, compared to a global average of 6.7%.
• New laws in the UK, such as the Public Order Act 2022, grant police wider powers to curtail protests.
• Australia leads with a 20% arrest rate, while countries like Brazil and Peru report low arrest rates but higher police violence.

Key quote:

“There is an increasing criminalisation and repression of climate and environmental protest.”

— Oscar Berglund, political economist, University of Bristol

Why this matters:

Criminalizing peaceful environmental protest limits public engagement in climate action and deters advocacy. As environmental crises worsen, this trend undermines efforts to hold governments and industries accountable.