Five activists of the environmental organization Just Stop Oil were sentenced to four years in prison yesterday (18/7), after they were found guilty of conspiracy to block the M25 motorway in London.

These are the heaviest sentences ever handed down for a peaceful protest in Britain.

The five – including Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam – were charged with conspiracy to disturb public order over a demonstration in November 2022 when activists stopped traffic by climbing a bridge marker over the highway.

The sentencing comes amid a wider crackdown on protest movements in Britain and across Europe.

The five pleaded not guilty but were convicted last week after a trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court.

Chaotic scenes unfolded during the hearing, with some of the defendants being arrested in court for reacting violently to the judge’s verdict.

Judge Christopher Hehir said there was “an unprecedented level of willful disorder” and pointed out that Hallam, who had been arrested three other times, had tried to turn the trial into yet another protest.

Protesters holding placards outside the court were also arrested for alleged contempt of court, although Hehir noted that legal proceedings against the 11 arrested were withdrawn.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said the financial cost of the protests was at least £770,000, causing travel problems for thousands of people.

Hehir stressed that “this was a conspiracy to cause, an extreme and disproportionate disorder”, adding: “each of you some time ago crossed the dividing line and went from a restless activist to a fanatical extremist”.

“You have declared yourself the sole arbiters of what needs to be done about climate change,” he said.

Hallam, 58, was sentenced to five years in prison. The other four defendants, aged between 22 and 58, were sentenced to four years in prison each.