Nine Women Sue Met After Coronation Arrests Near Animal Rising Workshop

Nine women who attended a non-violent Animal Rising workshop in central London have launched legal action against the Metropolitan Police. The arrests occurred on 6 May 2023, the day of the King’s coronation, though the workshop was held five miles from Westminster Abbey.

The women, aged between 20 and 64, were detained for up to 14 hours and subjected to full body searches. They included students, teachers, and medical professionals. None had previous arrests, and all were released without charge by the end of August 2023.

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Police Actions and Legal Response

Officers told the group they were suspected of planning to disrupt the coronation as part of Just Stop Oil. The Met later stated it had intelligence linking them to the climate group, a claim disputed by the women’s lawyers. Hodge Jones & Allen, representing the group, said no evidence supported this connection.

Louisa Hillwood, who led the workshop, described the experience as humiliating. She said officers handcuffed the women and held them in a police van for hours before questioning. Hillwood had advertised the event online for weeks, framing it as training on positive police interactions.

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It was humiliating to be escorted like that into the back of a police van, where we spent many hours outside a station before we were taken in for questioning.

Louisa Hillwood, Animal Rising workshop trainer

One woman, a medical communications specialist who asked to remain anonymous, said she had never been arrested before. She described being released late at night without a phone, forcing her to navigate across London alone. She said the experience shattered her trust in police.

Aftermath and Legal Challenge

The women remained under investigation until August 2023, when police returned their phones and confirmed no further action would be taken. Susie Labinjoh, head of civil liberties at Hodge Jones & Allen, said the arrests left many with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety.

The Met has not commented on the specifics of the case but confirmed it is defending the legal claim. A CrowdJustice fundraiser has been set up to cover legal costs. The women seek accountability for what they describe as an unjustified use of police powers.

What Happens Next

The case is proceeding through the High Court. A hearing date has not been set. The women’s legal team will argue the arrests lacked reasonable grounds. The Met will defend its actions, maintaining the arrests were lawful based on available intelligence at the time.