4th April 2022, 11am –
At Crawley Magistrates Court today, the first plea hearings of 20 supporters of Insulate Britain are underway as the first wave of criminal proceedings are brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This is the first day of over 25 group hearings scheduled in the coming months at Crawley, Stratford and Chelmsford Magistrates Courts. The plea hearings relate to a number of charges such as, 10 charges of ‘Causing a Public Nuisance’, and 1 charge of ‘Criminal Damage under £5000’ issued by Kent Police, and 11 charges of ‘Wilful Obstruction of the Highway’ issued by Surrey and Sussex Police. [1][2]
The courts and CPS are complicit in supporting the government who are failing people in Britain and across the world by not taking swift and robust action to address both the cost of living crisis and climate breakdown.
Sue Hagley, 66, a retired administrator and grandmother of three from Ipswich said today:
“The cost of fuel is rising so much that very soon ordinary people like me won’t be able to afford to heat our homes properly. My husband and I are retired so we have to manage on a fixed income, it is bad enough for us but for those who are unwell, already living in poverty or who have children it must be terrifying.
Ordinary people must now be realising that insulation would make all the difference to their quality of life and that the government is doing nothing to help them, in fact its the opposite, the government is intent on continuing the harm. The government is taking us for fools. Rishi Sunak’s agenda is to serve the rich, Insulate Britain’s agenda is to serve those living in poverty, and it’s treasonous that the number of people forced into poverty is going up in their thousands in 2022.”
A high proportion of Insulate Britain supporters are also taking part in Just Stop Oil, an ongoing coalition campaign of civil resistance. We may see non cooperation with the legal system as an extension to both the Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil campaigns. Just Stop Oil is demanding that the government make a meaningful commitment to immediately halt all new licences and consents for oil extraction, exploration and development in the UK. [3]
Jessica Causby, 25, a cafe worker from Walthamstow said today:
“We shouldn’t be here. It is unjust to criminalise people who are asking that the government Insulate Britain’s cold and leaky homes. The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his Spring statement that he will cut the VAT for energy efficiency products which is yet one more policy that helps the rich and does nothing for the poor. How are people who are struggling in poverty meant to afford solar panels, heat pumps and insulation which will cost thousands?! It’s obscene!
This must stop, families living in Britain deserve better. Boris must get on with the job of Insulating Britain today! We must start to care for our neighbours who may be next door, in the other end of the country or on the other side of the world. All of our survival depends upon it. This is why I took action with Insulate Britain, as an act of universal care.”
ENDS
Press contact: 07737 457105
Email: insulatebritainpress@protonmail.com
High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Kucq-NfhnZLGJWwLx1HX03cWR7M9Y2-m
Website: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/insulatelove
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N5mAeeCLbD-AFUqtPaF0g
Notes to Editors
[1] Supporters summoned to Crawley for 10am; Alexander Rodger, Cameron Ford, Cathy Eastburn, Gregory Frey, Harry John Barlow, Jessica Causby, Margaret Mulowska, Michael Wiley, Oliver Rock, Priyadaka Conway, Susan Hagley, Venetia Carter
Supporters summoned to Crawley for 2pm; Ana Heyatawin, Janet Brown, Judith Bruce, Philippa Clarke, Robin Collett, Ruth Cook, Sarah Hirons, Tez Burns
[2] Subsequent Insulate Britain Plea Hearing Court Dates:
Crawley Magistrates Court, 05/04/22 10am & 2pm, 06/04/22 10am & 2pm, 07/04/22 10am & 2pm, 08/04/22 10am, 11/04/22 10am & 2pm, 12/04/22 10am & 2pm, 13/04/22 10am & 2pm, 14/04/22 10am & 2pm, 28/04/22 10am & 2pm, 29/04/22 10am & 2pm
Chelmsford Magistrates Court, 26/05/22 9:30am & 1:30pm, 27/05/22 9:30am & 1:30pm
Stratford Magistrates Court, 22/04/22 9:30am, 29/04/22 9:30am, 10/05/22 9:30am
About Insulate Britain
Insulate Britain is a new campaign group that is calling on the UK government to put in place policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing.
We demand the Prime Minister and the government to #getonwiththejob, face up to their responsibility and lead our country through the climate crisis.
We are ordinary British citizens with simple and achievable demands to #INSULATEBRITAIN
The UK government must immediately promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain.
We demand a national home insulation strategy that gives British people the justice they deserve: a future for our loved ones, lower energy bills and safer living conditions.
We are scared: our livelihoods are at risk and the futures of our children are uncertain
The Climate Crisis is a threat to all: we demand the government to act now.
Our Demands
1. That the UK government immediately promises to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025;
2. That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy.
Further information about Insulate Britain and our demands here: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Technical Report on home energy efficiency here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jt5FI-kinEXoqZtPDrCvnAVQ2EFn8Aea/view
Insulate Britain ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with ‘blue lights’ on.