Berlin authorities ordered to compensate Last Generation protesters for expenditures related to glue-removal service charges
Berlin Court Rules Against Police Charging Climate Activists for 'Glue-Removal' Services
In a significant ruling on September 10th, 2023, the Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin (OVG) upheld the right of climate activists to peaceful protest without unnecessary expenses. The court rejected a police appeal against a decision made by the administrative court last year, which stated that the police could not charge activists for the removal of glue used during protests.
The ruling comes after public outcry and calls for the Berlin police to cease charging these fees to activists. The specific case in question involves a Last Generation activist who glued his hands to a street intersection in June 2022 as a form of protest aimed at disrupting traffic. As a result of the court's ruling, the police must reimburse the activist for the fee initially demanded.
Last Generation is a climate activist group that has been actively protesting in Berlin. The demand for payment has been met with criticism, as it is seen as an unnecessary expense for peaceful protest. The police justified the fee citing a "threat to public safety and order" caused by the protester's demonstration, but the court's opinion was that the protester had enough means to leave the street himself and the police removed him against his will.
The court's ruling does not specify the amount of the reimbursement to the activist. However, it is known that the amount of the reimbursement, €241, is the fee that was initially demanded from the Last Generation activist for the glue-removal service. The ruling in September 2023 sets a precedent for future protests and interactions between activists and authorities, as the court stated that there was no legal basis for charging glue-removal fees to activists.
By September 2023, the Berlin police had sent out almost 1,300 glue-removal fees to climate activists. In future, the police will not be able to charge other demonstrators for the same so-called service. The ruling is significant as it upholds the right of activists to peaceful protest without unnecessary expenses.
It is important to note that, in Germany, police fees for services such as cleanup after protests (like glue removal) are usually governed by local administrative law and can be subject to judicial rulings by courts such as the Oberverwaltungsgericht (OVG - Higher Administrative Court). However, without specific search results or legal texts citing the OVG ruling from September 10, 2023, I cannot confirm the exact regulatory status or any changes implemented thereafter.
For detailed, up-to-date information on this ruling and its impact on police charging practices in Berlin, it may be necessary to consult official Berlin state government publications, the relevant OVG court decision documents, or legal databases specific to German administrative law.
- This ruling by the Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin (OVG) on September 10th, 2023, is significant for environmental-science activists, as it upholds their right to peaceful protest without incurring unnecessary expenses, such as glue-removal fees.
- The court's decision, which sets a precedent for future protests and interactions between activists and authorities, comes amidst criticism of the Berlin police's policy-and-legislation on charging climate activists for services like glue-removal, seen as an unnecessary expense for peaceful protest.
- The ruling's implications extend beyond the Berlin court case, influencing the general-news landscape, as it emphasizes the importance of freedom of speech and environmental activism, signaling potential changes in police-activist interactions and environmental-science policy in the future.
