A judge has dismissed all charges against five Extinction Rebellion protesters after a police officer due to give evidence in their case went on holiday.

Deputy District Judge Vincent McDade accused the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of “abject failure” over the blunder.

City of London Magistrates' Court heard that a police officer, who was due to be a prosecution witness, was not given enough notice of the trial date and had booked a holiday.

Judge McDade said the officer had arrested the five defendants and was a “vital witness to establish the lawfulness or otherwise of the arrests”.

“There has been an abject failure by the CPS to ensure that this case has been properly managed," he told the court.

“Had the CPS acted efficiently and warned the witness as soon as possible after the case management hearing on 7 November, this matter would proceed today with that witness giving live evidence."

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10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction Rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction rebellion protests at London City Airport - 10 October 2019 Angela Christofilou Angela Christofilou/The Independent Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers arrest an activist at London City Airport on the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers react as an activist scales the roof above the entrance to London City Airport AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Activists blockade the Docklands Light Rail (DLR) statio AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Protests have been carried out in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An Extinction Rebellion demonstrator gestures with a banner as he occupies a raised area at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain a protestor Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport The activist gestures after scaling the roof AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain protester Phil Kingston Reuters Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An activist holds a placard during a 'Hong Kong style' blockage of the exit from the Docklands Light Railway to City Airport PA Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers react as an activist, dressed in a suit, scales the roof above the entrance to London City Airport during the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion, in London, on October 10, 2019. - Demonstrations occurred in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police Officers stand guard as Extinction Rebellion demonstrators peacefully block an entrance at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport Police officers detain Extinction Rebellion protester during a demonstration at London City Airport, in London, Britain, October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls HENRY NICHOLLS REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport An activist, dressed in a suit, gestures after scaling the roof above the entrance to London City Airport during the fourth day of demonstrations by the climate change action group Extinction Rebellion, in London, on October 10, 2019. - Demonstrations occurred in 60 cities around the world this week, with thousands taking to the streets of New Delhi, Cape Town, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Extinction Rebellion is demanding that governments drastically cut carbon emissions. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP/Getty Extinction Rebellion block entrance at City Airport A demonstrator wearing an Extinction Rebellion tie is removed by Police Officers as demonstrators peacefully block an entrance at City Airport in London, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Some hundreds of climate change activists are in London during a fourth day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP

The judge concluded that he had “no option but to dismiss all matters against all defendants”.

Claudia Fisher, 57, from Brighton, Phoebe Valentine, 23, from Brighton, David Lambert, 60, from Gloucestershire, Senan Clifford, 59, also from Gloucestershire, and John Burrage, 42, from West Wales had been facing trial for aggravated trespass.

They were accused of gluing themselves to the concourse between London City Airport and a DLR station in October.

Before the hearing on Tuesday, a former chief government scientist said he would give evidence in their defence warning that climate change was the “most important issue humanity has ever had to face”.

Professor Sir David King called for “leadership from the very top” and described Brexit as a “distraction”.

“What we are talking about is the most important issue humanity has ever had to face up to,” he added.

“No government, including ours, is doing enough today. So what we need is much more action, much more clarity on the action that is needed, and we need it with a public voice.

“And that's what Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion have done. They've put it back on the front pages.”

Sir David, who served as the foreign secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change, described the actions of the Extinction Rebellion activists as a “brave attempt” to get the “critically important” issue into the spotlight.

A CPS spokesperson said: “We accept an error was made in not warning the witness sooner which meant the trial could not proceed. We apologise for this error, which led to the case being dismissed today at court.”

British Transport Police have not responded to The Independent's request for comment over their officer's absence.

The Extinction Rebellion protest at London City Airport in October (Angela Christofilou/The Independent)

Police have been heavily criticised for their response to mass Extinction Rebellion protests centred on London in April and October, where almost 3,000 arrests were made as activists blocked roads and bridges.

Hundreds of demonstrators were detained after the Metropolitan Police issued an order effectively banning Extinction Rebellion protests from the whole of London in April.

But the move was ruled unlawful by High Court judges and more than 100 prosecutions have subsequently been dropped.

A fresh uproar was caused by revelations that counterterror police in the South East had included Extinction Rebellion among other left-wing campaign groups in a document on spotting extremism.

The unit responsible apologised for the “error of judgement” and said it does not classify the global movement as an extremist organisation.

Police said the document would be recalled, but it has now emerged that it had already been circulated to government departments, five police forces and 20 local councils.

The Guardian reported that the guidance was sent to bodies including the Home Office, the Department for Education, Prison Service and NHS England, who all have statutory duties to report extremism under the controversial Prevent programme.

Extinction Rebellion accused police of “trying to silence a peaceful, non-violent movement of people who are trying to make sure the world's children have a future“.

Last week, security minister Brandon Lewis told MPs that Extinction Rebellion was ”in no way considered an extremist group“.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: ”We are clear that the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our just society and an indispensable channel of political and social expression.

“The police have recalled the guidance and are reviewing it, and I want to reiterate that Extinction Rebellion is in no way considered an extremist group under the 2015 definition of extremism.”