Eight Activists Charged Following Attacks on The Ritz and Crown Jewels

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that eight individuals are facing criminal charges for damaging property during recent incidents targeting The Ritz Hotel and the Crown Jewels in London. The events, which took place last year, involved creative acts of protest that drew public attention.

Manure Incident at The Ritz Hotel

On December 3, 2025, bags of manure were scattered across the floor of The Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly. Four people, aged between 21 and 66, have been charged in connection with this act. Among them are Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23; Tom Barber, 66; Toby Ellwood, 21; and Tjalle Rumley, 26.

Crumble and Custard Targeting Crown Jewels

Another group of four activists was charged for a separate incident involving crumble and custard. The attack occurred on December 6, 2025, when the items were thrown at a display case holding the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Fatima Ali, 19; Miriam Cranch, 22; Mack Preston, 22; and Matthew Cooper, 50, are linked to this event.

“Democracy has crumbled,” one protester shouted during the Crown Jewels incident.

Take Back Power, a nonviolent civil resistance collective, is believed to be a spinoff of Just Stop Oil. The group claimed responsibility for both acts, aiming to highlight demands for a permanent citizen’s assembly—referred to as the “House of the People”—to address wealth inequality and reform governance.

Additional Charges for Shoplifting

In a separate development, the police announced that a 66-year-old man from Plymouth, David Kilroy, has been charged with theft. This follows an alleged organized shoplifting incident at a Sainsbury’s store in Lewisham on March 14, 2026. Kilroy is set to appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on April 29.

Earlier this year, the Met revealed 15 activists from Take Back Power were arrested for planning “mass shoplifting” campaigns. The group allegedly intended to steal items from large supermarkets and redistribute them. This latest charge marks the first time a specific individual has been linked to the alleged scheme.

Group Origins and Recent Activities

Take Back Power gained visibility through social media platforms used by Just Stop Oil activists. The environmental protest group described it as a “new project” with similar goals. Just Stop Oil, known for high-profile actions like soup-throwing at art exhibits and motorway protests, discontinued its direct action methods in March 2026.