What happens when the government turns protest into a crime? New laws aren’t just tightening the rules, they’re redefining who gets to speak out and even who has the right to a defence in court. With thousands of protesters waiting to hear if they’ll be charged with a crime, the message seems clear: dissent now comes at a cost.

In this episode, Penelope is joined by Sarah Lunnon, an organiser with Just Stop Oil, and Audrey Mogan, a criminal barrister who has defended protesters in court. Together, they unpack how these new laws are being applied in practice and the impact on direct action groups, individual rights, and the future of protest.

Audrey Mogan @acmogan

Find out more about Audrey's work at Garden Chambers here: https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/audrey-cherryl-mogan/

Sarah Lunnon @slunnon

Further resources

Read the parliamentary briefing on police powers regarding protest: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05013/

Transform Justice

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The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.