On Saturday 28th March 2009, to co-incide with the Put People First march through London, lone peace activist Mr Robert Griffin climbed over the railings surrounding the Palace of Westminster/Houses of Parliament.


He was arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 for Criminal Trespass on a Protected Site. After spending eight hours in police custody Mr Griffin was released on bail. On Tuesday 21st July 2009, Mr Griffin answered bail to receive a caution.


The protest occurred five days before leaders of the G20 nations met to discuss the global economic situation, developing-world poverty and climate change.


Mr Griffin joined the Put People First march at its starting point along the Embankment. He broke away from the other protesters at the Houses of Parliament and then scaled the fence on the corner of St Margaret Street and Bridge Street (co-ordinates 51.500804,-0.125932 on Google Maps). He then sat down on the lawn and apparently began to pray, before being apprehended by on-duty police officers within the grounds. When asked by the arresting officer what he was doing there, he answered: “This is the people’s parliament, and I am one of the people”.

Mr Griffin explained the reasoning behind his actions; “The government is increasingly taking away our civil liberties in the name of security. My symbolic gesture was simply a way of reminding those in Parliament that their first and foremost duty is to represent those that elect them. Occupying and fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq do not make our streets safer, and simply bring needless bloodshed and destruction that impacts many lives and families. Britain has a responsibility as one of the most respected nations on Earth to be peaceful, to settle diplomatic matters through dialogue and negotiation, and to assist the rest of the world to develop in a sustainable, democratic and harmonious way. The vast majority of the British people would choose peace instead of war and diplomacy instead of invasion.”