Today, thirteen arrests were made in Essex, Kent, Surrey, Hertfordshire, and by the Metropolitan Police.
While reacting to Just Stop Oil protests on the M25, a police officer was hurt in a collision involving two vehicles involving two lorries.
The Essex Police Department reported that an officer was struck and injured by a vehicle after a rolling roadblock was established due to the presence of a person on the road.
Although the reason for the collision is unknown, one person was arrested for making a public disturbance by demonstrating on the highway, according to the police.
In addition, the event resulted in road closures between Junction 26 and Junction 27 in the clockwise direction, when a second individual was arrested.
There have been additional reports of individuals atop gantries near Intersections 29 and 30, with the Essex Police arresting a demonstrator at both junctions.
While multiple police units cope with the demonstrations, motorists have been urged to find alternate routes and avoid the area.
Superintendent Chief Simon Anslow stated: “Again, officers moved swiftly to minimize disruption, and two individuals have already been apprehended.
One of our officers was hurt while assisting in the resolution of this scenario.
In the following tweet, Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressed her best condolences to the injured police officer and branded the Just Stop Oil protests as “hazardous.”
It was the third consecutive day of protests on the UK’s busiest motorway, Just Stop Oil stated.
Animal Rebellion activists, who are pushing for a “plant-based food system,” have joined the demonstrators.
Officers issued a warning that the ongoing activity will disrupt traffic in the vicinity.
Aside from this, Surrey Police stated that one protester was atop a gantry near Junction 8, shutting the road between there and Junction 7 in the opposite direction.
Four individuals were arrested for conducting a public nuisance, while a fifth individual was arrested for conspiracy to create a public nuisance.
The Kent Police Department detained two individuals in separate instances at Junction 4 and 1A. They remain under police arrest.
On Twitter, the Metropolitan Police stated: “Today, we are again prepared to respond to any protest action on the M25 alongside partner forces.
“We are aware that the public is quite frustrated by this disturbance.”
Officers are already on the scene between Junctions 24 and 25, where a protester has “locked themself to a gantry,” according to the police.
Locks create “additional complication for our removal crews,” so authorities had to send in specialized equipment, such as a JCB, for the removal.
Just Stop Oil issued a statement stating: “This is not a one-day event; you can expect us everywhere and every day.
“This is an act of resistance against a criminal regime and its program of genocide.
“Our supporters will return today, tomorrow, the day after that, and every day afterward until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the United Kingdom.”
National Highways has obtained an injunction from the High Court to prohibit protesters from Just Stop Oil from interrupting England’s busiest motorway.
To terminate the environmental group’s interruption of the busy route, the court has issued an additional injunction prohibiting illegal demonstrations on the M25, which encircles Greater London.
Just Stop Oil conducted 32 days of disruption between the end of September and the beginning of October, resulting in 677 arrests and 111 people being charged, as well as 9,438 additional shifts for Met Police officers.
