Warwickshire GP faces sanctions over climate protests after tribunal finds misconduct
It happened in 2022
A Warwickshire doctor faces sanctions after repeatedly flouting a court order to take part in environmental protests.
Dr Sarah Benn, a GP and NHS doctor of more than 30 years, took part in three protests at the oil terminal in Kingsbury in 2022.
Dr Benn, who was held in custody after some of the protests, had admitted she was in breach of an interim injunction by attending the demonstrations and this amounted to a contempt of court.
On Thursday, a medical practitioners tribunal, sitting in Manchester, found that her fitness to practise was impaired due to her misconduct.
The tribunal has been looking into allegations that Dr Benn took part in peaceful protests - on April 26, May 4 and September 14 - within a prohibited buffer zone at Kingsbury Oil Terminal that was in breach of an interim injunction granted on April 14 2022.
The misconduct panel stated: "The tribunal has concluded that Dr Benn's conduct fell so far short of the standards of conduct reasonably to be expected of a doctor as to amount to misconduct which was serious.
"It was of the view that the majority of members of the public and profession would not condone breaking the law in the manner that Dr Benn repeatedly did, and with the consequent impact on the operations of the police, courts and the administration of justice."
The tribunal will now look at what sanctions it may use and these could range from taking no action, imposing conditions on her practice, suspension or striking her from medical registration.
Dr Benn admitted to the tribunal to taking part in a protest by spreading out and sitting down across the road, obstructing access to, and egress from the terminal on April 26. She then spent eight days in custody on remand.
She also admitted attending a protest on May 4 where she held a banner within a prohibited buffer zone at the side of the entrance to the terminal.
She also admitted taking part in a sit-down protest which blocked vehicles trying to get in and out of the terminal on September 14 and then receiving a sentence of 32 days imprisonment.
The tribunal heard the injunction essentially prohibited a number of named individuals, as well as "persons unknown", from participating in protests against the production and use of fossil fuels at the terminal.
The injunction made clear that a breach of the order may result in being held to be in contempt of court and liable to be imprisoned, fined or having assets seized.
No issues in respect of Dr Benn's clinical work were raised at the misconduct hearing.
Dr Benn qualified in 1990 from Leicester University Medical School and spent 32 years as a GP, including work in inner city Birmingham. She has also been a GP trainer and undergraduate tutor.
She worked remotely for NHS 111 during the pandemic, for the Worcestershire Covid Management Service, and on site at her practice.
She relinquished her licence to practise in August 2022 and stated she has devoted the majority of her time to environmental activism and voluntary work.
In her tribunal statement, Dr Benn made it clear she did not dispute the facts and that she wanted to protest in a way that was likely to make an impact.
She stated: "The purpose on every occasion was to cause disruption sufficient to place pressure on our government and institutions to take meaningful action to address the climate crisis.
"The design always avoided risk of harm to any person impacted, although people were subjected to inconvenience, which I did not enjoy."
She also said she was backing demands made by Extinction Rebellion to try to tackle the climate emergency.
The hearing, which is listed to April 24, was adjourned to Friday at 9.30am.