Police under fire for failing to stop Extinction Rebellion activists from ripping up Cambridge lawn

The expert at digging: Amelia Halls

With her distinctive smile and blue dye in her hair, she stood out in the group photo taken in front of the freshly vandalised lawn.

Ironically the 21-year-old is an expert in digging as a former trainee site assistant at the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at the university.

The Manchester University archaeology graduate said: ‘I am part of XR because I am terrified. ‘Everything we do is because we have read the science and we are scared.’

Proving a point’: Colin Rodgers

The support worker from Ipswich, 59, said he has been a member of the Green Party for years and written to the Government many times but ‘nothing changed’.

Colin Rodgers

Amelia Halls, left, is an expert in digging as a former trainee site assistant at the Cambridge Archaeological Unit and Colin Rodgers, right, was also seen at the protest

He decided to take drastic action in pushing politicians to act and joined Extinction Rebellion in 2018. ‘I was a law-abiding citizen but I joined the XR protests in London last April and ended up getting arrested,’ he said.

‘It’s something I’m passionate about and I needed to do something. I’ve been taught how to deal with the police so that made me more confident. We had to dig up the lawn to prove a point.’

Donald Bell, 64, was arrested after supergluing himself to a police van

Donald Bell, 64, was arrested after supergluing himself to a police van

Glued to police van: Donald Bell

The former soldier, 64, was one of the protesters digging up the lawn. He was arrested yesterday after supergluing himself to a police van. 

The grandfather-of-one from Cambridge said he had been writing letters to the Government for nearly 50 years but was always ignored.

He said: ‘We had to be more disruptive. I just felt compelled to do something for my children and grandchildren. ‘I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully knowing I hadn’t done anything.’

Graffiti vandal: Derek Langley

Aged 64, he has been involved in a number of XR protests including daubing graffiti of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2018.

The retired photographer, from Cambridge, painted ‘climate change equals starvation’ on the building before being arrested.

He said on Monday: ‘Nature is not just beautiful to look at, it is vital in sustaining a functioning biosphere. Biodiversity loss is just as bad a problem as climate breakdown and the world simply cannot sustain further damage to our ecosystems.’

Derek Langley has been involved in a number of XR protests

Gabby Ditton, 26, is a freelance animator from Norwich

Derek Langley, left has been involved in a number of XR protests while Gabby Ditton, 26, right, is a freelance animator from Norwich

Led away by officers: Gabby Ditton

The freelance animator, 26, from Norwich, was led away by police yesterday after allegedly spray-painting the Schlumberger research building with the XR logo and the word ‘ecocide.’ 

Her arrest comes the day after she is said to have helped rip up the Trinity College lawn. The University for the Creative Arts graduate has worked for the Radisson hotel chain, the BFI and Channel 4. She offers reduced rates to clients who prove their environmental credentials.

Helped set up the tents: Tilly Porter

The philosophy student at King’s College is from Devon and among the most committed of the XR Cambridge members.

She spent her 21st birthday on Sunday in the wind and rain after setting up the XR camp in the city centre for the start of this week’s protests.

Yesterday, she glued herself to a building in the city where oil industry research is carried out.

Last week she was among those who occupied Cambridge City Council’s chamber overnight. In October, she was arrested after taking part in the so-called International Rebellion, which she said made her parents proud.

Student Tilly Porter (pictured right) spent her 21st birthday on Sunday in the wind and rain after setting up the XR camp in the city centre for the start of this week’s protests

Student Tilly Porter (pictured right) spent her 21st birthday on Sunday in the wind and rain after setting up the XR camp in the city centre for the start of this week’s protests

Ex-student on payroll: Annie Rose

A vocal member of XR Cambridge Youth, Annie Rose accused the university of being ‘exploitative’ but admits it ‘changed my life’.

The 26-year-old, who was home-schooled in Suffolk before being reading theology at Cambridge, juggles activism with her day job helping the university’s outreach initiative. 

She said: ‘It’s difficult to be in this position. I believe in the University of Cambridge – it changed my life… But when I see them being exploitative I can’t stand it.’