Climate protesters in England and Wales lose criminal damage defence

Appeal court says defendants' beliefs and motivation' do not constitute lawful excuse for damaging property

One of the last defences for climate protesters who commit criminal damage has been in effect removed by the court of appeal. The court said the beliefs and motivation" of a defendant do not constitute lawful excuse for causing damage to a property.

The defence that a person honestly believes the owner of a property would have consented had they known the full circumstances of climate change has been used successfully over the last year by protesters.