A recent Met police operation, which involved raiding a Quaker meeting house, also led to the arrest of an autistic climate activist, Joe Booth, at his supported accommodation in New Barnet, north London. Booth, 23, was taken from his bed by seven police officers on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This arrest appears linked to his attendance at weekly meetings of Youth Demand, an offshoot of Just Stop Oil, described as a nonviolent protest movement.
The evening prior to Booth’s arrest, up to 30 Met officers broke down the front door of a Quaker meeting house to arrest six female members of Youth Demand, marking the first time police had forced their way into a place of worship used by the pacifist Quakers movement. This raid has faced significant criticism from various groups.
Booth, who claims he has never participated in disruptive protests and has previously attended just one peaceful Youth Demand march, said the arrest has left him with post-traumatic stress disorder. He also noted that the police officers who arrested him seemed surprised to find him in supported accommodation for vulnerable adults.
After a support worker allowed the police into his flat, an officer grabbed Booth’s arm and asked if they needed to handcuff him before reading him his rights. Booth, who works as a cleaner on the London Underground, stated that the officers were unaware of his living situation until they arrived. He was subsequently taken on a two-hour drive to Kingston police station, where he was questioned and held for over seven hours before being released on police bail with conditions, including a ban on entering Westminster.
Additionally, Booth had been distributing leaflets promoting Youth Demand’s plans to oppose arms sales to Israel and inaction on fossil-fuel harm. He emphasized his role was only to spread news of the events and claimed he was not ready to risk imprisonment. His arrest and the raid on the Quaker meeting house have raised concerns about the policing of protest groups and the impact on individuals like Booth, especially those with vulnerabilities.
The Met Police responded by stating that their actions were based on intelligence suggesting those arrested were involved in planning significant disruption in London, which they have a responsibility to intervene in to prevent criminal activities. They also assured that the situation of arrested individuals, including their mental health, is assessed to ensure appropriate care while in custody.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/22/police-arrested-autistic-activist-in-supported-housing-as-part-of-quaker-raid-operation
