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Just Stop Oil sparked rush hour chaos again this morning by closing a section of the M25 as activists scaled a number of gantries across the motorway network.
Surrey Police said they have been called to reports of one protester at junction 6, one between junctions 8-9, one between junctions 13-12 southbound and one between junctions 13-14.
‘We are here and dealing and will get this resolved as soon as possible. Thank u for your patience,’ the force said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Essex Police also said it was responding ‘to reports of people climbing up an overhead gantry close to Junction 30.
It came despite National Highways getting a High Court order barring the eco-zealots from disrupting Britain’s busiest motorway.
Just Stop Oil said it contacted the Metropolitan Police and National Highways to advise them that there would ‘major disruption’ on the M25, and ask them to implement a 30mph speed limit, ‘in line with their responsibilities to keep the public safe’.
Police then made a series of arrests overnight to try and stem the demonstrators’ plans for large-scale blockades.
Last night, leader Roger Hallam, 56, and two other eco-activists were taken in for questioning, according to The Sun – while the Met confirmed this morning it made a further four arrests at an address in south London for conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
Mr Hallam was not at home when the police raided his property to arrest him, but they later said he had been arrested on suspicion of the same offence.
Indigo Rumblelow, 28, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil from London said: ‘What did you expect? This government is complicit in an illegal and unconstitutional plan to issue more licences and consents for new oil and gas.
‘A plan that will take the world over 1.5C, resulting in the collapse of ordered society, the loss of our rights and freedoms and the death of millions of people.
Just Stop Oil sparked rush hour chaos again this morning after an activist scaled the motorway gantry on the M25
Police have been called to deal with protester, who is in place between junctions 6 and 7 in Surrey. Traffic is still moving at the moment
The eco-group carried out an entire month of action over October and were planning daily action until Christmas
Police watch as traffic is held back as an activist from Just Stop Oil occupies a gantry over the M25 near Godstone in Surrey
The action is starting to cause chaos on the roads during the Monday morning rush hour
‘Our latest Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talks of the importance of ending our dependance on fossil fuels yet he is still planning to allow new fossil fuel projects. This is a failure of politics.
‘People have the legal right under British law to cause disruption to prevent a greater harm: the right of necessity. We do not do this lightly.
‘After thirty years of public debate, lobbying and petitioning, and three years of peaceful civil disobedience, we are still on course for catastrophic climate breakdown and we have nowhere else to go. The government is doubling down on fossil fuels, indicating ever greater levels of criminality.
‘In the face of this reality, disruptive civil resistance is now inevitable and justified. It will continue until the UK government changes course. We are serious. We have never been more serious.
‘Our families, communities, our country and civilisation are on the cliff edge of destruction. We will not die silently and neither will the people, like you, your friends, neighbours and colleagues who know what has to be done.’
Theresa Norton, 64, a local councillor and carer from Scarborough said: ‘If we allow new oil and gas, millions will die. Millions are already dying right now from extreme heat, drought, famine, wildfires and floods.
‘We are all in mortal danger and I cannot stand by and watch the cavalier attitude of a government wontonly destroying our future and our kids’ futures. It is obscene. I am with the kids who will not stand for it, who are actively resisting this genocidal government.’
Anthony Whitehouse, 71, a grandfather and gardener from Dewsbury, added: ‘I have worked hard, supported my family and expected a secure retirement. Instead I find myself in civil resistance against a criminally negligent government.
‘Along with everyone else who understands where we are heading I must try to prevent the disaster that is unfolding. To understand the consequences of climate collapse and not to act is to be complicit in the death of millions and the displacement of hundreds of millions of people from their homes. Ordinary hard working people deserve to know what is coming if we don’t halt new oil and gas.’
The eco-group carried out an entire month of action over October and were planning daily action until Christmas.
Mr Hallam, who also co-founded Extinction Rebellion said: ‘It’s potentially the most significant act of civil disobedience in decades.’
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said three people were arrested on Sunday evening who were suspected of planning public disruption.
The leader of Just Stop Oil, Roger Hallam, was arrested last night for reportedly planning large-scale blockades to bring traffic to a stand-still on the M25 (pictured: Hallam being arrested in 2019)
Hallam,56, and two other eco-activists were taken in for questioning by Met police last night, The Sun reported
Metropolitan Police confirmed they have launched a ‘significant’ operation to identify and arrest climate change protesters suspected of planning ‘reckless and serious’ motorway disruption as Cop27 gets underway.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said three people were arrested on Sunday evening who were suspected of planning public disruption. Police were expecting to make more arrests overnight.
Mr Twist said: ‘Our investigation has strong reason to suspect the Just Stop Oil group intend to disrupt major motorway road networks which would risk serious harm to the public, with reckless action to obstruct the public on a large scale.
‘All those arrested are suspected of engaging in conspiracy to cause public nuisance contrary to Section 78 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
‘There remains a possibility outstanding suspects are still intent on causing unlawful disruption to the public. The Met has mobilised specialist teams and drawn police officers from across the capital to respond.’
According to the Met, which is conducting the operation in conjunction with the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC), more than 10,000 officer shifts have been dedicated to policing Just Stop Oil protests since the start of October.
It comes as National Highways secured a High Court injunction to prevent Just Stop Oil protesters disrupting England’s busiest motorway.
The court has granted a further injunction which aims to stop unlawful demonstrations on the M25, which encircles Greater London, in an attempt to end disruption to the busy road by the environmental group.
It means that anyone entering the motorway and fixing themselves to any object or structure on it, and anyone assisting in such an act, can be held in contempt of court.
They could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and the seizure of assets.
The injunction was secured in addition to an court order obtained by National Highways earlier this year that targeted protesters including those from Insulate Britain.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he instructed National Highways to apply for the latest injunction to tackle a ‘reckless minority of protesters’.
He said: ‘Protesting by blocking busy motorways or climbing overhead structures is extremely dangerous and disruptive, which is why I instructed National Highways to apply for this further injunction, which the courts have granted.
‘This will make it easier to take action against this reckless minority of protesters.
‘They could face imprisonment or an unlimited fine if they breach the injunction.’
National Highways secured a High Court injunction to prevent Just Stop Oil protesters disrupting England’s busiest motorway
Mr Hallam, who also co-founded Extinction Rebellion said their action up until Christmas would potentially be ‘the most significant act of civil disobedience in decades’
Duncan Smith, executive director for operations at National Highways, added: ‘Millions of people rely on the strategic road network every day and they have a right to expect it to operate as it should.
‘We already have an injunction covering hundreds of miles of our network. This further court order will make it easier to take action against those reckless individuals who choose to unlawfully protest on the M25.
‘Protesting on these busy roads is extremely dangerous for the protestors themselves and all road users.
‘National Highways remains committed to do whatever it can to seek to deter unlawful protest activity and punish all of those who breach the injunction orders in the eyes of the law.’
National Highways’ existing injunction covers the M25, the M25 feeder roads and major roads in Kent and around the Port of Dover until May 2023.
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