Four people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after apple crumble and custard were thrown at the glass case protecting the Imperial State Crown at the Tower of London on Saturday 6 December. Footage posted by the group Take Back Power shows two activists coating the case before holding a sign reading “Democracy has crumbled” as visitors looked on. Police said they were called just before 10:00 and had four suspects in custody by around 10:30.

Historic Royal Palaces confirmed the Crown Jewels were unharmed and the Jewel House, briefly closed for investigation, reopened later the same day. The Imperial State Crown remains a centrepiece for the Tower, which draws more than three million visitors annually.

The crown itself carries historic weight as well as stones: made in 1937 for George VI, it contains 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies and 269 pearls. King Charles III wore it at his 2023 coronation and for the 2024 State Opening of Parliament.

Take Back Power describes itself as a new non‑violent civil resistance group demanding a permanent citizens’ assembly with powers to tax extreme wealth. The action follows a separate mid‑week protest in which three supporters dumped bags of manure beside the Ritz hotel’s 25‑foot Christmas tree in Mayfair; police inquiries into that incident continue.

Eco Current tracks the strategy question behind such stunts: do they shift policy or just headlines? Recent polling suggests the public backs climate action but dislikes disruptive tactics. YouGov has found strong opposition to road‑blocking and similar actions, and just one in five Britons supportive of recent Just Stop Oil‑style protests. A University of Bristol/YouGov study likewise found most people favour fines over prison for non‑violent disruption while 82% say climate change matters.

This new group arrives as Just Stop Oil has stepped back from headline‑grabbing direct action, saying earlier this year it would wind down street protests after April 2025. Activist networks are now testing fresh banners and tactics while the political debate over wealth, climate and protest law evolves.

There is a constructive route on the table: well‑designed citizens’ assemblies. OECD evidence shows governments have convened hundreds of representative deliberative processes-716 tracked between 1979 and 2023-with a large share addressing environmental issues. Used properly, these forums can cut through polarisation and build support for long‑term choices.

The UK has already run a national model. Climate Assembly UK brought together 100+ people in 2020 and produced recommendations with striking levels of agreement-for example, 96% support for making net zero a cross‑party goal and 94% for more transparency between big energy and government. It was funded by the House of Commons (£120,000) plus philanthropic contributions of £200,000–£220,000 each.

For campaigners and policymakers, credibility is the make‑or‑break factor. UK NGO Involve sets out standards for citizens’ assemblies-random selection, independence, inclusive design, sufficient time, and a formal response from decision‑makers. Meeting these tests can turn public frustration into practical choices on fairness, energy and housing.

What happens next? Police continue their investigation into the Tower incident. The bigger watch‑item is whether ministers commission a high‑quality, time‑limited citizens’ assembly on fair tax and the net‑zero transition in 2026-and commit to respond to its proposals. Today’s protest dominated feeds. The real test is whether the UK channels anger into decisions people can stand behind.