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

Read case analysis

Queen Mary University of London v LSY & Ors

Queen Mary University of London v LSY & Ors [2024] EWHC 2386 (Ch) (20 September 2024)

The High Court granted Queen Mary University possession of part of its Mile End campus occupied by protesters, rejecting public law and ECHR defences.

• Possession proceedings
• Trespass
• Freedom of speech
• Right to protest
• University governance
• Summary judgment

Read case analysis

Ineos Upstream Limited v Joseph Boyd & Anor.

Costs ruling in an INEOS protest-injunction case: the claimants were ordered to pay D6 and D7’s costs on the standard basis, and the proceedings were struck out.

• Costs
• Injunctions
• Protest law
• Persons unknown
• Case management
• Freedom of expression

Read case analysis

National Highways Ltd v Persons Unknown & Ors

National Highways Ltd v Persons Unknown & Ors [2022] EWHC 1105 (QB) (11 May 2022)

The High Court granted summary judgment against 24 Insulate Britain defendants, refused it against 109, and made final and interim injunction orders over highway protests.

• Summary judgment
• Injunctions
• Trespass
• Public nuisance
• Private nuisance
• Right to protest

Read case analysis

National Highways Ltd v Persons Unknown & Ors

National Highways Ltd v Persons Unknown & Ors [2022] EWHC 1105 (QB) (11 May 2022)

The High Court partly granted National Highways’ claim over Insulate Britain protests, granting summary judgment against 24 defendants and injunctions, but refusing relief against 109 others.

• Injunctions
• Summary judgment
• Trespass
• Public nuisance
• Private nuisance
• Right to protest

Read case analysis

Gitto Estates Ltd t/a Horizon Properties v Persons Unknown

Gitto Estates Ltd t/a Horizon Properties v Persons Unknown [2021] EWHC 1997 (QB) (13 July 2021)

Interim injunction granted in part against persons unknown over protest conduct at a landlord’s premises, but only for clearly unlawful acts and precise defendant identification.

• Interim injunctions
• Right to protest
• Articles 10 and 11 echr
• Persons unknown
• Proportionality
• Service of process

Read case analysis

City of London v Samede & Ors

The High Court held that the Occupy camp at St Paul’s Churchyard unlawfully obstructed the highway and could be removed despite Articles 10 and 11 rights.

• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of expression
• Right to protest
• Obstruction of highway
• Possession proceedings
• Planning enforcement

Read case analysis

City of London v Samede & Ors

City of London v Samede & Ors [2012] EWHC 34 (QB) (18 January 2012)

The High Court held that the Occupy camp at St Paul’s Churchyard unlawfully obstructed the highway and justified possession, injunctions, and planning enforcement.

• Right to protest
• Obstruction of highway
• Possession of land
• Injunctions
• Articles 9, 10, 11 echr
• Planning control

Read case analysis

City of London v Samede & Ors

City of London v Samede & Ors [2012] EWHC 34 (QB) (18 January 2012)

The High Court granted the City of London possession and injunctions against the St Paul’s protest camp, holding the occupation unlawful and proportionate to restrain.

• Right to protest
• Obstruction of highway
• Articles 10 and 11 echr
• Possession of land
• Planning control
• Proportionality

Read case analysis