Nottingham joins other universities in asking courts to help end protest camps
University’s lawyers asked a judge to issue a possession order against “persons unknown” after tents were first erected in early May
The University of Nottingham has become the latest academic body to ask the High Court to intervene in its bid to end a Pro-Palestinian protest encampment on its land.
On Friday, the university’s lawyers asked a judge to issue a possession order against “persons unknown” over its Jubilee Campus where tents were first erected in early May.
They argue protesters are trespassing on private land and that the camp has been linked with “disruption and unlawful activities” during open days last month as well as health and safety concerns.
Lawyers for the only named defendant in the legal action, 24-year-old River Butterworth from Warwickshire, argue a court order helping to “evict” the “peaceful” encampment would be a “disproportionate interference” with their free speech and protest rights.
The hearing in London comes a day after the University of Birmingham sought a similar High Court order against a pro-Palestine encampment at the “Green Heart” outdoor area on its Edgbaston campus.
It also follows The London School of Economics securing a Central London County Court order indefinitely barring encampments in one of its buildings after students slept in its atrium for more than a month in support of Palestine.
Queen Mary University of London has previously said it would take legal action to secure possession over its Mile End campus if protest encampments did not end.
Owen Greenhall, representing Mx Butterworth, said in written arguments that the camp was part of nationwide protests at British universities, held in solidarity with demonstrations in North America and in support of people in conflict-torn Gaza.
He said Mx Butterworth had joined the protest to encourage the university “not to be complicit in the loss of life in Gaza, and the commission of war crimes through the development and supply of arms and military equipment, academic research and collaboration with Israel”.
The barrister said the protest called for divestment from companies “complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestine”, with the camp positioned near the Advanced Manufacturing Building where the university allegedly “conducts research for arms companies”.
Mr Greenhall said the encampment, currently of around 10 to 15 tents, “symbolises the many thousands of displaced Palestinians” and had not caused “any substantial disruption, disturbance or harm”.
Mx Butterworth was not a trespasser and had a “licence” to protest on university land, the court was told.
The defendant told the PA news agency they were suspended from their role as postgraduate officer of the students’ union due to participating in protests.
A court order was unnecessary and not justified, Mr Greenhall said, adding that the university had failed to comply with legal duties and its free speech policy.
Katharine Holland KC, for the university, said in written submissions that it faced an “unlawful occupational encampment” and had “a duty to safeguard university assets”.
She said the legal action “does not remove the rights of the defendants to freedom of expression or assembly or to undertake a legitimate protest” and that the university was not denying protesters the use of land “for any reason connected with their beliefs, policy or objectives”.
Ms Holland wrote: “The reality of the position here is that the occupiers have taken up occupation on an area of land and put up camps there in order to seek to force the University to surrender to certain demands.
“It is submitted that direct action of this nature is not – and should not be – within the scope of ‘freedom of expression’ or ‘freedom of assembly’…”
In written arguments for a hearing in May, another university barrister, Michelle Caney, said protesters were “deliberately concealing their identities by wearing masks, balaclavas and hoods” and that security staff were diverted to the site to ensure health and safety.
She added: “The presence of the occupational protest has caused disruption and apprehension for staff and students, and in particular to members of the university’s Jewish Society.”
The hearing before Mr Justice Johnson ended on Friday, with the judge to issue a written ruling over the Birmingham and Nottingham cases at a later date.
Show less
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
