Alarm bells of authoritarianism sounding in the UK

Global Witness criticizes the UK's 'Policing Bill' as an attack on democracy that uses the threat of imprisonment to deter nonviolent climate protests. The organization contends that this legislation contradicts the UK's leadership at COP26 and mirrors a global trend of criminalizing land and environmental defenders seen in countries like Brazil, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.

• The UK government's 'Policing Bill' is described as an unprecedented expansion of police authority that threatens peaceful protesters with imprisonment, which Global Witness claims will silence climate groups and hinder the ability to challenge political inaction on the climate crisis.
• The introduction of the Policing Bill is viewed as a contradiction to the leadership the UK displayed during COP26, specifically by criminalizing youth climate defenders and those protesting climate degradation.
• Global Witness identifies a global trend of authoritarianism where land and environmental defenders face increasing violence, stigmatization, and criminalization, citing Brazil, India, Mexico, and the Philippines as examples where governments abuse laws to limit human rights.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Alarm bells of authoritarianism sounding in the UK. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/alarm-bells-of-authoritarianism-sounding-in-the-uk/

Chicago

Global Witness. Alarm bells of authoritarianism sounding in the UK. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/alarm-bells-of-authoritarianism-sounding-in-the-uk/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Witness |title=Alarm bells of authoritarianism sounding in the UK |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/alarm-bells-of-authoritarianism-sounding-in-the-uk/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalwitnessndalarm, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Alarm bells of authoritarianism sounding in the UK}}, publisher = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/alarm-bells-of-authoritarianism-sounding-in-the-uk/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }