University colleges seek injunctions over protests

Two university colleges are seeking High Court injunctions against pro-Palestine demonstrations after an encampment on their land over the weekend.

On Friday, activists camped on Newton Lawn outside Trinity College and then moved to a lawn outside St John's College, a lawyer for the University of Cambridge said.

The protesters left after temporary injunctions were granted on Sunday and Monday, meaning further protests could result in activists being found to be in contempt of court.

On Thursday, Kester Lees KC, for the colleges, asked for the injunctions to be made final and to last 12 months, as protests were disruptive to students taking exams.

In written submissions, he said the university was "concerned about the environment of fear and intimidation created by masked protesters".

He said the university did not wish to stop all protests but added that "some chanting was directly aimed at disrupting the examination season".

Instead he suggested other options, such as a march or online and writing campaigns.

Grant Kynaston, for the European Legal Support Centre, which supports the legal rights of pro-Palestine activists, said the court action had been rushed and that more time should be given, during which further evidence could be provided.

Mr Kynaston asked the court to discontinue the injunction.

He said if it were to be granted, it would be an "exceptionally wide-ranging and uncalibrated interference" with the protesters' human rights.

He also said there was a trend of higher education institutions relying on court injunctions as a first rather than a last resort for enforcement against protests.

Judge Andrew Twigger KC is expected to give his judgement in two to three weeks, during which time the temporary injunctions will remain in place.

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