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Festival as compared to last year but 5% up for the Derby race itself. A record number of 41 broadcasters broadcast the Derby to 170 countries worldwide 41 . Certainly, there is nothing
to suggest that any change in attendance or viewing figures has anything to do with AR’s
actions. In short, horse racing remains a highly popular and well-attended sport, across
many demographics and socioeconomic groups.
28. Surrey Police have informed us that there were four arrests made on the day of the 2025
Derby but these that these were related to ‘drunk and disorderly’ offences, rather than in
relation to protest action.
Wider protest action
29. Further to the abovementioned actions of AR, Mr Truesdale set out in 2024 that there was
“ a clear recent history of activist organisations targeting high profile sporting events to seek
to attract media attention and further their agenda through disruptive activities ” ( Truesdale 2,
paragraph 28; see also, Diaz-Rainey 2, paragraph 16), and I believe that this remains the
case.
30. Environmental activist group, Just Stop Oil (“ JSO ”), disrupted a number of sporting events in
2023, as detailed at paragraph 26 of Truesdale 2. On 27 March 2025, JSO issued a press
release stating that it was “ hanging up the hi vis ”, indicating it would halt its street
campaigns, purportedly because it had won on its “ initial demand” that the government end new oil and gas licences. 42 However, JSO supporters told the media: “ The high-vis might be going away … but we aren't ." 43 Indeed, at the time of writing this witness statement, the
homepage of JSO’s website, states “ Just Getting Started … Just Stop Oil may have won our
demand, but revolutionary change is needed now more than ever ,” with the rallying cry, “ See you on the streets .” 44 Further, under the heading, “ About Us ” , on the homepage of JSO’s website , the group states in no uncertain terms : “ A new revolutionary direct action campaign is coming. Help us build what’s next. ” 45
31. Furthermore, Youth Demand (“ YD ”), a political and environmental youth activist organisation
affiliated with JSO, 46 was established in 2024. 47 On 27 April 2025, YD affiliates jumped over
the barriers during the London Marathon on Tower Bridge, and into the path of the men’s elite race, throwing red powder paint across the road. 48 YD’s website calls on people to “ Help us grow the resistance ”, and to attend “ Nonviolence Training ” events. 49
41 Pages 114 – 116 of CB1 42 Pages 117 - 121 of CB1 43 Pages 122 - 131 of CB1
44 Page 132 of CB1 45 Page 137 of CB1
46 Pages 139 - 142 of CB1 47 Pages 143 - 152 of CB1 48 Pages 153 - 162 of CB1 49 Pages 163 - 167 of CB1
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