Charges laid after apple crumble and custard thrown at Crown Jewels
Eight people have been charged with criminal damage after protests targeted London’s Ritz hotel and the crown jewels.
Take Back Power, which describes itself as a non-violent civil resistance group, claimed it was behind a demonstration in the Tower of London in December that saw apples smashed and pudding thrown at a display case containing the crown jewels.
Just a few days earlier, activists from the group had targeted the Ritz hotel, emptying bags of fertilizer next to the Christmas tree.
On Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, Tom Barber, 66, Toby Ellwood, 21, and Tjalle Rumley, 26, were charged over the demonstration at the Ritz.
Redwood-Brown, of Balmoral Road, Bristol, and Barber, of St Andrews Road, Nottingham, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Ellwood, of Newport Gardens in Leeds, and Rumley, of Hereford Road, Acton, west London, will appear at the same court on April 29.
Meanwhile, Fatima Ali, 19, of Rhodeswell Road, Tower Hamlets, east London, Miriam Cranch, 22, of Trelawn Avenue, Leeds, Mack Preston, 22, of Westferry Circus, Tower Hamlets, and Matthew Cooper, 50, of Oriel Gardens, Bath, were charged in connection with the crown jewel show.
They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 27.
Last month Take Back Power said supporters in London, Manchester, Exeter and Truro were carrying out a mass theft campaign to “free food boxes” from supermarkets to food banks.
David Kilroy, 66, of Hartley Park Gardens, Plymouth, was charged with theft following an organized burglary at Sainsbury’s in Lewisham, south-east London, on March 14.
He will appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on April 29.
On Saturday detectives arrested seven people who attended the Take Back Power training event in Millman Street, Camden, north-west London.
Police said the arrests were linked to the group’s plans to commit mass theft.
They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery before being taken into custody and later released on bail.
Later on Saturday, a 25-year-old man turned himself in at a London police station after hearing he was wanted by officers, the force said.
He was arrested on suspicion of encouraging theft and remains in custody.
A spokesman for the group said those who attended Saturday’s training event “only learned about nonviolence.”
The group called for a citizen-led parliament with the power to tax the wealthy.
Assistant Deputy Commissioner James Harman said of Saturday’s arrests: “There is a clear difference between lawful protest and criminal activity.
“We will continue to take action to disrupt this group, where we have reason to suspect they are involved in a wider conspiracy to commit criminal offenses, including organized shoplifting and illegal occupation of stores.
“Theft, criminal damage and aggravated trespass are crimes and the public expects the police to deal with them and that is exactly what we have done.”
