Court Reduces Sentences for Six Just Stop Oil Activists

Six climate activists, including Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam, have successfully had their jail sentences reduced by the Court of Appeal following their involvement in disruptive protests in 2022. The court ruled that the sentences for Hallam and five others were 'manifestly excessive,' resulting in reductions ranging from one to 12 months. Hallam's original five-year sentence was decreased to four years, while others saw reductions from four years to three years or 30 months. Ten additional appeals from fellow protesters were dismissed, meaning their sentences remain unchanged. The protests, which included climbing onto motorway gantries and throwing soup over a Van Gogh painting, caused significant traffic disruption and incurred substantial police costs. The ruling has been met with protests in the courtroom, highlighting ongoing tensions between activists and the judicial system.