The Know Daily - Thursday 9 May 2024

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A fintastic story for Thursday: researchers have identified what could be the first known smooth hammerhead shark nursery in the Galápagos. The vulnerable species is rarely spotted in the marine reserve, making the discovery especially exciting 🦈 

🧑‍⚖️ Anti-protest powers

Just Stop Oil supporters have appeared in what is thought to be the first trial brought under powers introduced last year to curb protest, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. 

What have they been charged with?
According to the paper, three JSO activists were charged with breaching section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023 after taking part in a slow march blocking traffic in west London in November. Their trial is expected to last five days, with JSO describing it as a “major test case” of the new law.

What does the law say, exactly?
As Euronews explains, the government has explicitly stated that Britain’s new Public Order Act - introduced in May 2023 - was designed with climate groups such as JSO and Insulate Britain in mind. 

Section 7 of the Act bans any activity that “interferes with the use or operation of any key national infrastructure in England and Wales”. As “infrastructure” includes roads, the Act has been used by police to combat the slow march tactics that have become increasingly popular among climate activists.

What’s the bigger picture?
Over recent years, the government has introduced a “flurry” of legislative measures relating to protest, largely in response to growing climate activism, said The Guardian. Among them is the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which notably gives police the right to shut down “unjustifiably noisy” protests.

Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised such legislation, arguing it undermines the democratic right to protest.