A retired doctor from Chesham was visited by police after being reported to the counter terrorism programme, after he joined the environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion.

According to reports in The Guardian, Lyn Jenkins joined the group after becoming convinced that ‘urgent action was needed to avert climate breakdown.’

The doctor had previously sought help from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as he battled claustrophobia. After telling the trust he wanted to be arrested during Extinction Rebellion protests, he said he may experience panic attacks in a police cell if he was arrested.

The Trust then referred Jenkins to Prevent, a government programme aimed at stopping people from becoming terrorists.

Mr Jenkins criticised the decision to refer him to the programme, saying that his only intention was to raise awareness about the threat of climate change.

He said: “Extinction Rebellion is, above all, a non-violent movement. Labelling peaceful protesters as terrorists leaves them, and the world as a whole, in a more perilous position.”

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust defended their actions. A spokesperson told the Bucks Free Press: ““We have a responsibility to fulfil our safeguarding obligations to protect people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.

“There is a range of safeguarding matters on which we may seek advice, depending on the issue, whether that’s child protection, domestic abuse or radicalisation.

“Prevent is part of the safeguarding programme, with a remit that extends beyond terrorist activity. If someone seeks treatment with us with the declared intention of enabling themselves to be arrested, that would prompt us to consider whether they were vulnerable or were being exploited by following the appropriate safeguarding process.

“If the person who has raised these issues about the process would like to contact us we would be very happy to review with them the facts and decision making in this case.”