England and Wales Case Law

Birmingham City Council v Persons Unknown (Re Protests in Support of the Bin Workers' Strike)

Birmingham City Council v Persons Unknown (Re Protests in Support of the Bin Workers' Strike) [2026] EWHC 373 (KB) (20 February 2026)

The High Court authorised alternative service on unknown protesters and granted Birmingham City Council a limited interim injunction against trespass and obstruction at waste depots and on city roads.

• Service of proceedings on persons unknown
• Alternative service
• Interim injunctions
• Trespass
• Private nuisance
• Public nuisance

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Birmingham City Council v Persons Unknown

The High Court granted Birmingham City Council interim injunctive relief against unknown protesters blocking depots and waste vehicles, and allowed alternative service.

• Service of process
• Injunctions
• Protest law
• Trespass
• Nuisance
• Public nuisance

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Julian Roger Hallam & Ors v R

Sentencing judges must consider conscientious motivation as relevant to culpability, assess proportionality of interference with ECHR rights, and impose the shortest sentence commensurate with seriousness; manifestly excessive sentences must be reduced, but immediate custody is justified given the scale, planning, and harm of the offences.

Source excerpt

• Public nuisance
• Criminal damage
• Sentencing principles
• Protest law
• Echr articles 10 and 11
• Conspiracy

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Patricia Andrews & Ors v Kronospan Limited

The court dismissed a group environmental nuisance claim over dust, odour and noise from a Chirk factory, finding the emissions did not amount to legal nuisance.

• Private nuisance
• Public nuisance
• Prescription
• Best available techniques (bat)
• Environmental permitting
• Damages for loss of amenity

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Andrews & Ors v Kronospan Ltd

Andrews & Ors v Kronospan Ltd [2025] EWHC 2429 (TCC) (25 September 2025)

The court dismissed a group nuisance claim over dust, odour and noise from Kronospan’s Chirk factory, finding no substantial interference with the claimants’ enjoyment of their homes.

• Private nuisance
• Public nuisance
• Environmental regulation
• Damages
• Prescription
• Ordinary and reasonable user

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William Brown v Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd

High Court personal injury judgment finding Morgan Sindall liable for a cyclist’s accident caused by an unmarked bollard base, with 5% contributory negligence.

• Negligence
• Public nuisance
• Occupier's liability
• Contributory negligence
• Damages
• Disability discrimination

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Teledyne UK Ltd v Gao & Ors

Teledyne UK Ltd v Gao & Ors [2025] EWHC 2050 (KB) (01 August 2025)

The High Court granted Teledyne a final injunction against named protest defendants and defined persons unknown, with annual review for the latter.

• Trespass to land
• Public nuisance
• Interference with right of access to highway
• Injunctions against persons unknown
• Protest law
• Article 10 echr

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R v AFY & Ors

Section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 covers obstruction of rights that the public at large is entitled to exercise or enjoy, even if those rights are subject to conditions; the offence does not require total prevention of the right or proof that someone attempted to exercise it at the time.

Source excerpt

• Public nuisance
• Statutory interpretation
• Protest law
• Police, crime, sentencing and courts act 2022
• Reporting restrictions

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Teledyne UK Limited v Julian Allen GAO & Ors

Final injunctive relief was justified and proportionate against both named and persons unknown defendants due to ongoing, real, and imminent risk of unlawful protest causing trespass, public nuisance, and interference with highway access at claimant's sites. The relief did not restrict lawful protest, satisfied all procedural and substantive requirements, and was necessary to protect claimant's property and operational rights. The order was not made contra mundum, and no blanket permission requirement for contempt applications was imposed. Costs were awarded against named defendants.

Source excerpt

• Trespass
• Public nuisance
• Interference with highway access
• Injunctions
• Protest law
• Persons unknown defendants

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Sheila Foggoa v Murphy & Sons Limited

Appeal arising from injuries caused by a fall into a trench on a public footway. The High Court held there was no breach of duty, refused fresh evidence, and dismissed the appeal.

• Negligence
• Public nuisance
• Statutory interpretation
• Duty of care
• Causation
• Admission of fresh evidence

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