George Monbiot

law & order

Making Democracy Safe for Business
The government is ensuring that we can mount no effective protest against the banks and corporations. Read more – ‘Making Democracy Safe for Business’.
Britain’s Private Militias
The Ratcliffe miscarriage of justice shows that we need a sweeping reform of the police. Read more – ‘Britain’s Private Militias’.
False Witness
Justice is impossible if we can’t trust the police to tell the truth. Read more – ‘False Witness’.
The Freedom Swindle
The government promised us the right to peaceful protest. It is delivering nothing of the kind. Read more – ‘The Freedom Swindle’.
The Real Domestic Extremists
Who threatens us most – peaceful campaigners or a private militia run by police chiefs? Read more – ‘The Real Domestic Extremists’.
Beware Fake Radicals
Conservatives have perfected the trick of defending power by attacking it. Read more – ‘Beware Fake Radicals’.
Land of Impunity
If the police can get away with killing Ian Tomlinson, there’s no justice in Britain. Read more – ‘Land of Impunity’.
The Death of Irony
How could the intent of today’s column have passed so many people by? Read more – ‘The Death of Irony’.
A Modest Proposal for Tackling Youth
Here’s how the UK should pursue its war against young people. Read more – ‘A Modest Proposal for Tackling Youth’.
Putting the Pope on Trial
International law presents a radical challenge to the powerful: they could be judged by the same standards as the rest of us. Read more – ‘Putting the Pope on Trial’.
Morality Policing
The police treat protests and festivals as a threat to their power Read more – ‘Morality Policing’.
The Reckoning
Wherever Blair goes, our campaign ensures that he can never be free from the fear of arrest Read more – ‘The Reckoning’.
A Bounty for Blair’s Arrest
Today I am launching a new fund – www.arrestblair.org – to reward people who attempt to arrest the former prime minister Read more – ‘A Bounty for Blair’s Arrest’.
The Hanging Judge
Why has Mr Justice Eady been allowed to conduct a one-man campaign against free speech? Read more – ‘The Hanging Judge’.
Justice in Shades
A damning judgement on army killings suggests that officials at every level have covered up torture and murder. Read more – ‘Justice in Shades’.
The Busybody State
Why was the Big Green Gathering shut down by the authorities? Read more – ‘The Busybody State’.
The Barbarians at the Gate
Why has policing in Britain gone so mad? Read more – ‘The Barbarians at the Gate’.
Printing Police Lies
The rightwing press has briefly turned against the police, but normal service will soon resume. Read more – ‘Printing Police Lies’.
The Proceeds of Crime
The US and British governments have created a private prison industry which preys on human lives. Read more – ‘The Proceeds of Crime’.
The Paranoia Squad
A British police unit is demonising peaceful protesters to stay in business. Read more – ‘The Paranoia Squad’.
The Price of Free Speech
A grotesque case of legal bullying using a 13th-Century law shows that in some respects we still haven’t shaken off feudalism. Read more – ‘The Price of Free Speech’.
Censored by Money
England’s mediaeval libel laws are becoming a global menace to free speech Read more – ‘Censored by Money’.
Mind-Forged Manacles
Crime is down, convictions are down, but the prisons are bursting. Why? Read more – ‘Mind-Forged Manacles’.
Lost in the System
What has happened to Bush’s secret prisoners? Read more – ‘Lost in the System’.
Justice Undone
I didn’t get my man, but I helped to remind people what he’s done. Read more – ‘Justice Undone’.
This Is Now a Protest for Democracy
To win an injunction against protests at Heathrow airport, BAA used a law which threatens our democratic rights Read more – ‘This Is Now a Protest for Democracy’.
A Plague of Lawyers
Their over-representation in politics is partly responsible for a long sequence of oppressive laws. Read more – ‘A Plague of Lawyers’.
The Darkest Corner of the Mind
US interrogators have devised a new form of torture. It debases the democracy they claim to be defending. Read more – ‘The Darkest Corner of the Mind’.
Defend Our Ranting Homophobes
People should be as offensive as they wish. But in Britain the police can decide whose views to ban. Read more – ‘Defend Our Ranting Homophobes’.
Feeding Crime
If governments really want to improve law and order, they should ban adverts for junk food Read more – ‘Feeding Crime’.
Children of the Machine
New technological advances could make us susceptible to perpetual surveillance Read more – ‘Children of the Machine’.
Protesters are Criminals
And hardly anyone is contesting the new clampdown Read more – ‘Protesters are Criminals’.
Protest as Harassment
The new crime bill permits the police to stop almost any demonstration. Read more – ‘Protest as Harassment’.
The Myth of Compensation Culture
Big business is seeking the freedom to kill its workers Read more – ‘The Myth of Compensation Culture’.
A Thousand Dusty Codicils
Little by little, democracy is being banned Read more – ‘A Thousand Dusty Codicils’.
Riddle of the Spores
All the evidence points to government labs. Is this why the FBI has failed to solve the anthrax case? Read more – ‘Riddle of the Spores’.
Wrong T-shirt son? You’re nicked
The act which came into force this week could make terrorists of us all Read more – ‘Wrong T-shirt son? You’re nicked’.
Power Hides from the People
New market “freedoms” need the help of old-fashioned authoritarianism Read more – ‘Power Hides from the People’.
Illegal Beagles
In the name of preventing violence, the government is being asked to ban peaceful protest Read more – ‘Illegal Beagles’.
More Human Than We Are
Corporations are asserting their “human rights” to exploit the rest of us. Read more – ‘More Human Than We Are’.
Disruptive Protest is a Civic Duty
When the law is wrong it must be challenged. That’s progress Read more – ‘Disruptive Protest is a Civic Duty’.
Publish and Be Damned
Britain’s libel laws allow the rich and powerful to silence the excluded Read more – ‘Publish and Be Damned’.
Protest and Survive
Britain has started the biggest civil rights clampdown in recent history Read more – ‘Protest and Survive’.
Inequality Before the Law
The powerful enjoy immunity, while the law treats the powerless ever more harshly Read more – ‘Inequality Before the Law’.
A Tax on Information
Government agencies are making us pay throught the nose for our right to know Read more – ‘A Tax on Information’.
Silencing Dissent
Big companies are using the courts to stifle their critics Read more – ‘Silencing Dissent’.
Defective Inspectors
As the security services seek to justify their existence, harmless activists are being treated as terrorists Read more – ‘Defective Inspectors’.
A Seedy Business
Old plant varieties have been criminalised by a series of draconian laws intended to protect big corporations Read more – ‘A Seedy Business’.
Hunting the Beast
I track down the police torturer who had me beaten up in 1989 Read more – ‘Hunting the Beast’.
Why the Police Provoke Crowds
The police seem to want as much trouble as they can get. Read more – ‘Why the Police Provoke Crowds’.
Publish and Be Damned
Britain’s libel laws allow the rich and powerful to silence the excluded Read more – ‘Publish and Be Damned’.
Back to 1662
The Government’s repressive new laws contain eerie similarities to statutes passed hundreds of years ago Read more – ‘Back to 1662’.