by Sunny Hundal

A civil claim by EDF energy against environmental activists could have huge implications for the future of protests in the UK.

Yesterday, the Guardian reported that EDF Energy has launched a civil claim for damages against a group called No Dash for Gas and other ‘associated activists’ for costs that the company claims to have incurred – a figure it puts at £5 million.

If the claim succeeds several of the campaigners could lose their homes, and all would face bankruptcy or be forced to pay a percentage of their salaries to EDF for decades to come.

This is the first time an energy company has attempted such a claim. It is clearly an attempt to bankrupt and stop peaceful direct action protests.

If successful the same tactics would likely be adopted by other organisations against all forms of direct action and protesting – including Greenpeace, UKuncut and even the Countryside Alliance.

This video explains what the activists are now facing.

The amount EDF are claiming represents just 0.3% of EDF’s annual UK profits, which rose by 7.5% this year to £1.7 billion.

The claims relate to a week-long shut-down and occupation of EDF’s West Burton gas-fired power station last October by No Dash for Gas.

Sixteen campaigners occupied two chimneys at West Burton for a week in October 2012, stopping nearly 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The activists – 21 in total – were convicted this week of aggravated trespass at Mansfield Magistrates Court.

Activists claim there is evidence that Nottinghamshire Police colluded with EDF against ‘No Dash for Gas’ by formally serving civil papers on the activists after their arrest, and by sharing their personal data with the power company.

When the activists’ lawyer wrote to the police asking to view CCTV footage from inside the station, he was told it had probably been deleted as footage was only kept for three months – despite the fact that this three-month deadline had not yet passed.

The case is reminiscent of the record-breaking ‘McLibel’ case, when the fast food chain McDonalds sued two activists from North London from 1990-1997. That case turned into a huge public relations disaster for McDonalds.