This week, the first 10 defendants from the blanket arrest of people joining the UK Uncut protest in Fortnum & Mason's were found guilty, despite their actions being described by the senior police officer on the scene as "non-violent and sensible"(Report, 18 November). The judge ruled that the simple act of "demonstrating" is potentially intimidating, and therefore a crime. That ordinary people can be branded criminals for taking part in such a protest is a worrying sign; and, while the magistrates court may have found these men and women guilty, we are clear that they are not the real criminals. While the Crown Prosecution Service and the police have thrown vast sums of money at criminalising those protesting against government cuts, they have done little or nothing to capture the real criminals – those who evade taxes, and the bankers who crashed our economy in the first place. The defendants are appealing the ruling to the high court and we wish them the best of luck.

Professor the Baroness Ruth Lister

Dr Evan Harris Vice-chair Liberal Democrat federal policy committee

Caroline Lucas MP Leader, Green party

Mark Serwotka General secretary, PCS Union

Dr David Hall-Matthews Chair, Social Liberal Forum

Deborah Doane World Development Movement

John Hilary Executive Director, War on Want

Liam Burns NUS President

Clifford Singer False Economy

Neal Lawson Chair, Compass

Mark Thomas

David Marquand Mansfield College, Oxford

John Harris Guardian

Leanne Wood AM Plaid Cymru

Jonathan Glennie ODI research fellow

Gavin Hayes General secretary, Compass

Howard Reed Landman Economics

Willie Sullivan Labour Councillor, Fife

Richard Exell

William Davies University of Oxford

Dr Heather Savigny University of East Anglia

Kay Banyard Feminist writer & campaigner

Gary Dunion Editor, Bright Green

Natalie Fenton Goldsmiths, University of London

Jeremy Gilbert University of East London

Sunny Hundal Liberal Conspiracy

Sam Tarry Labour councillor, Barking

Cat Smith Next Generation Labour

Stewart Wallis

Dr Tim Jenkins

Andrew Simms

David Clark

Sian Berry

Michael Prior

Jonathan Kent

Stewart Lansley

Ciaran Mundy

Zoe Gannon

Julia Slay

Catherine Howarth

Keith Sonnet

Rebecca Hickman