Hundreds of climate protesters may take legal action against London's Metropolitan Police after a High Court judge ruled a police ban on Extinction Rebellion protests was unlawful.
Last month, police enacted a ban that prevented two or more people from the movement taking part in protests.
Judges have since indicated that police did not have the authority to do this because the law did not cover "separate assemblies".
Activists warn the police could now be subject to false imprisonment claims from "potentially hundreds" of protesters.
A cimate change activist poses in a hammock in the busy shopping district of central London. Source: AFP
The Met has responded by saying it will now "carefully consider" the court's ruling.
The police action cost almost $45 million with more than 1,800 climate activists arrested.
In announcing the court's judgement, Lord Justice Dingemans said the police force's justification did not stand up.
Police officers remove protesters from a blockade on Waterloo Bridge. Source: Getty Images
"Separate gatherings, separated both in time and by many miles, even if coordinated under the umbrella of one body, are not a public assembly within the meaning of... the Act," he said.
"The XR [Extinction Rebellion] autumn uprising intended to be held from October 14 to 19 was not, therefore, a public assembly...the decision to impose the condition was unlawful because there was no power to impose it."
Last month's climate protests saw activists shut down areas around parliament and the Bank of England while also targeting traffic at London City Airport.
