London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Joe Booth, an autistic activist, was arrested in supported housing during a Quaker-linked raid, sparking fears of overpolicing peaceful protest groups.
As reported by The Guardian, a Met police raid on a Quaker house resulted in the detention of an autistic activist from supported accommodation.
What led to the arrest of Joe Booth?
Metropolitan Police arrested 23-year-old Joe Booth in his New Barnet care flat, suspecting him of involvement in plans to cause a public disturbance.
His arrest appeared tied to his weekly Youth Demand sessions, a group that split from Just Stop Oil and promotes nonviolent activism.
On the eve of his arrest, approximately 30 Metropolitan Police officers forced entry into a Quaker venue, arresting six female members in a connected operation.
What did Joe Booth say about his arrest experience?
Joe Booth said he only joined one peaceful Youth Demand march on Downing Street and never took part in disruptive protests. He claims the arrest left him with PTSD.
He stated that officers seemed shocked to find he was living in accommodation for vulnerable individuals.
According to Booth, once a support worker let officers into the flat, one of them grabbed his arm and asked, “Do I need to put you in handcuffs?” before reciting his legal rights.
He said,
“I was only planning to spread news of the events. I’m not at a stage in my life where I’m ready to risk going to prison.”
Booth stated,
“Like all autistic people, I can often struggle to understand certain messages that are told to me, which is why I often need staff with me when I receive letters, because I interpret things differently, and I also can’t survive without structure and routine. So when that gets disrupted by ongoing issues, that becomes a problem.”
He said,
“They did not know until they turned up that I lived in supported accommodation. When they arrested me, they said to me: ‘Joe, is this supported accommodation?’ They didn’t know. You would think there would be a system in place when they are going to an address to say this is a care setting.”
Officers found him in pyjamas, searched his flat, took his work phone, and drove him two hours to Kingston. He was detained for seven hours.
Due to his vulnerability, Booth brother was permitted to join the police interview as an “appropriate adult,” stated,
“They showed me pictures of protests that I wasn’t even in. They showed me pictures of [information about] upcoming events, only a few of which were protests, the other of which were just meetings and free food events. So they didn’t tell me at any point what evidence they had on me and why they got me, and how they even knew my face.”
According to Booth, his arrest has severely impacted his mental well-being and is expected to prompt renewed scrutiny of how protest groups are policed.
He stated,
“Every time I hear noise in the corridor, even from a distance, I get scared that it might be police, especially when there’s a knock at my door, especially if that knock at my door is early in the morning.”
Booth added,
“But even if it’s just from support staff or Amazon delivery or whatever, I get scared that it might be police. So my alertness has increased, and my anxiety has increased. And I see a therapist every single week, because I always have and he’s in full knowledge of how it’s been affecting me.”
In June 2024, Booth was arrested under the same suspicion following his presence at Just Stop Oil meetings, though he was released without charge. Booth said, “I have not been at a protest. It has left me bewildered.”
What did the Met spokesperson say about the Youth Demand raids?
A Met Police spokesperson stated,
“Youth Demand stated an intention to ‘shut down’ London over the month of April. We have a responsibility to intervene to disrupt and prevent activity that crosses the line from lawful protest into criminality and serious disruption that adversely impacts the lives of ordinary Londoners.”
They said,
“The proactive police activity on Thursday, 27 March and Friday, 28 March took place on the basis of intelligence that those arrested were involved in conspiring to cause serious disruption. They remain on bail while our investigations continue.”
They added,
“Officers will always take into account an arrested person’s mental and physical health, carrying out full risk assessments to ensure they can be cared for appropriately while in police custody. Those processes were followed in this case.”
Autistic activists in the UK
Autistic-led organisations
- The UK is seeing a rise in groups led by autistic individuals.
Focus areas: self-advocacy, community support, and education. - Notable names: Autistic UK, Autistic Inclusive Meets, Aucademy.
Employment & barriers
- Around 85% of autistic adults remain jobless or underemployed.
- Many are highly qualified but face systemic hurdles.
- With the right support, productivity can increase by 90–140%.
- Campaigners urge employers to create inclusive environments.