Extinction Rebellion has withdrawn the summary proceedings against the police on Friday. The climate group is stopping the case because the police have adjusted the policy regarding home visits.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) recently went to court because officers had visited several activists at home unannounced. The judge gave the parties until May 31 to reach an agreement.
The revised action framework states that officers will now first consider whether telephone contact is sufficient. The police expect that physical home visits will only be necessary “sporadically.” Additionally, participation in a demonstration should never be a reason in itself to make contact, and officers must clearly communicate the reason for the contact.
“We realize that such visits can have a significant impact on those we visit at home. When a home visit is necessary in the run-up to a demonstration, it requires good preparation and cannot just happen ‘like that’,” says police chief Yvonne Hondema.
“This is a win for us,” an XR spokesperson told the ANP. Attorney Otto Volgenant calls it a victory for all demonstrators. “The police policy was completely unclear until now,” he says. “The fact that the policy is now in black and white is new and provides demonstrators with a clear guide.”
XR announced at the end of March that it would go to court because of the home visits. Since 2022, about 35 activists from the climate group have reported being bothered by this.
Shortly before that, images appeared on social media of a woman who had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and was visited at home by the police. The officer asked her if she planned to demonstrate more often and what her point of view was. Among others, police chief Janny Knol criticized the action.