Extinction Rebellion: NHS reports patient to counter-extremism programme for joining non-violent environmental group The 69-year-old man was shocked to find police at his door over support for the green group

A retired doctor asking for protest-related health advice to embark on an Extinction Rebellion demonstration was reported to the government’s counter-terrorism programme by his GP.

Lyn Jenkins, 69, reportedly consulted his doctor for advice to overcome his fear of claustrophobia.

The man feared he would suffer from panic attacks if he was arrested and detained in a cell as a part of the environmental campaign group, The Guardian reported.

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But following the appointment, Dr Jenkins was surprised to find two police officers at his door after his local NHS trust had reported him to counter-terrorist programme Prevent, because he said he would willingly be arrested for the cause.

Extinction Rebellion member visited by police

Extinction Rebellion believes members of its campaign should get arrested for the cause to raise awareness surrounding the climate crisis.

The peaceful protest group had 1000 of its activists arrested by April 2019, with the Metropolitan Police pushing for more than 1,100 people to be charged over Extinction Rebellion protests in London.

Supportive of the protest group’s mantra, Dr Jenkins reportedly told his GP he would be willing to get arrested to further the cause during the appointment.

It was this statement that led the health professional to report him to Prevent, a programme designed to stop individuals from getting involved or supporting terrorism.

Although the officers took no further action after checking in on the retired doctor’s wellbeing, the retiree told The Guardian the NHS’ action caused him concern.

He said: “Extinction Rebellion is, above all, a non-violent movement. Labelling peaceful protesters as terrorists leaves them, and the world as a whole, in a more perilous position.”

What is Prevent? Prevent is a government programme launched to stop vulnerable people from entering terrorist circles. Launched in 2006 by the Home Office, the counter-extremism programme has been mired in controversy because of the methods used to report those considered to be susceptible to extremist organisations. Some critics have questioned to what extent the programme prevents terrorist attacks. Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi was reported to the programme five times before he carried out the Manchester arena bombing in 2017.

‘Vulnerable to exploitation’

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust defended the move, stating it has a responsibility to “protect people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.”

It said the medical professional was well within their rights to report Mr Jenkins after he declared his intention to be arrested while participating in protests.

The trust said in a statement: “We have a responsibility to fulfil our safeguarding obligations to protect people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.

“There is a range of safeguarding matters on which we may seek advice, depending on the issue, whether that’s child protection, domestic abuse or radicalisation.

“Prevent is part of the safeguarding programme, with a remit that extends beyond terrorist activity.

“If someone seeks treatment with us with the declared intention of enabling themselves to be arrested, that would prompt us to consider whether they were vulnerable or were being exploited by following the appropriate safeguarding process.”

Confidential patient details

NHS bosses have been told by the head of the Health Committee to stop handing over confidential patient information to the Home Office, which uses the data as part of efforts to locate suspected illegal migrants.



Dr Sarah Wollaston said the practice, which has risen threefold in the last three years, is “deeply concerning” and showed an “unacceptable disregard for serious unintended consequences”.

The Conservative MP said: “It is essential that all patients can trust that their confidential personal information, including their address, will not be shared without consent. Only in exceptional circumstances should that principle be breached & after full consideration of the public interest. [It] really was not for NHS Digital to in effect rewrite the principles underpinning confidentiality.”

i has contacted Extinction Rebellion and the Home Office for comment.