Cambridge secures injunction against pro-Palestine protests on university land

The University of Cambridge has been granted a further 12-month High Court injunction to prevent pro-Palestinian protests across key campus sites, citing “substantial disruption” and ongoing threats of direct action.

The renewed legal order, approved on Wednesday by Mr Justice Butcher, prohibits protesters from entering or occupying university land, including Senate House Yard, the Old Schools, Greenwich House and – for the first time – Chestnut Tree Lawn.

It follows an earlier injunction issued in March, which the university said was necessary to protect graduation ceremonies and staff safety after protest-linked disruption, including a student speech accusing Cambridge of “complicity” in “genocide in Gaza” that led to an evacuation.

Kester Lees KC, representing the university, said protesters believed to be associated with the campaign group Cambridge for Palestine had made clear their intention to continue direct action.

“Statements made by Cambridge for Palestine on their social media accounts convey the message that they will continue to carry out direct action until their demands are met,” he told the court.

In written submissions, he argued the harm caused by previous protests was “substantial”, including the disruption of thousands of attendees at graduation events, staff displacement, and over £230,000 in added costs for security, legal fees and cleaning.

The university also cited encampments erected earlier this year at Trinity and St John’s Colleges, which only ended after separate court injunctions were obtained.

“There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the risk has been lessened in any way,” Mr Lees told the court, adding that Cambridge for Palestine had “very clearly and expressly” stated it would not stop.

Human rights group Liberty and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) intervened to oppose the university’s bid. Grant Kynaston, for ELSC, called the injunction “overbroad and ambiguous” and said it should not be imposed until graduation ceremonies resume in October.

He warned the measure posed “serious human rights concerns” and was “clearly aimed at preventing campaigning and protesting regarding Palestine in particular”.

“The prejudice to students and staff, whom the claimant seeks to prohibit under force of court order from protesting against the university’s complicity in atrocity crimes, is severe and wide-ranging,” Kynaston said. “These students and staff do not have the time to wait another academic year to speak out on this urgent issue.”

Cambridge Students’ Union also condemned the move. In a statement, its sabbatical officers said the injunction represented “an attempt to silence the voices of students”.

“Students have a right to protest,” they said. “This institution has taught them to have the conviction to hold any and all institutions to account in their wrongdoings. The university now has a responsibility to act accordingly.”

The written reasoning for the ruling is expected to be published at a later date.