Despite the Metropolitan Police’s “proactive” arrests of Just Stop Oil protesters accused of preparing action on UK highways, this development has occurred.
A portion of the M25 has been temporarily shut down after protestors from Just Stop Oil scaled overhead gantries and wreaked havoc on the key freeway surrounding London.
The group’s spokesperson stated that “activity has been taken at various sites along the M25.”
While multiple police teams dealt with the demonstrations, motorists were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
The disruption occurred despite last night’s “proactive” arrests of activists accused of organizing action on UK roadways by the Metropolitan Police.
Surrey Police stated that the decision to stop various stretches of the M25 on Monday morning rush hour was made “for everyone’s safety” while officers removed protesters.
There were reports of demonstrators mounting gantries between junctions 6 and 7, 8 and 9, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12, according to the police.
“We are here and resolving the situation as quickly as possible,” it tweeted, later adding that protestors had been removed and arrested for public annoyance from all affected stretches of the highway, with lanes reopening.
A fifth protester who had climbed a gantry between junctions 13 and 14 was also removed, allowing traffic to resume.
Hertfordshire Police reported similar incidents on the M25 at junctions 20, 22, and 23.
“The road closure at M25 junction 22 has been lifted. Five people have been arrested and all protestors have been removed “Twittered.
Three persons, including a man and a woman, were arrested by the Essex Police for attempting to scale a gantry near junction 30 of the highway. At junction 27, the third individual had fastened himself onto a gantry.
“At this time, there have been no recorded accidents on the Essex section of the M25, and the motorway has been fully reopened,” the police said in a statement.
They are currently detained and being questioned on suspicion of traffic violations.
The protests occurred as the latest COP27 international climate change summit began in Egypt.
The Metropolitan Police previously stated that its “major” operation led to the detention of at least three individuals who the force had “strong grounds to suspect are bent on causing reckless and severe disturbance to the public.”
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist issued the following statement on Sunday night: “In response to intelligence, this operation is swift and will continue this evening and throughout the night while various arrest inquiries are conducted.
“This evening, we have thus far made three arrests about this conduct.
“Our investigation has uncovered significant evidence that the Just Stop Oil group intends to disrupt major motorway road networks, endangering the public’s safety by engaging in large-scale obstruction.”
According to the Met Police, the suspects were arrested for allegedly planning to cause public annoyance.
Mr. Twist cautioned that it “remains possible” that additional suspects “remain bent on unlawfully disrupting the public”
National Highways has obtained an injunction from the High Court to prohibit protesters from Just Stop Oil from interrupting England’s busiest motorway.
The court has issued a fresh injunction to prevent illegal demonstrations on the M25, which encircles Greater London, to end the environmental group’s interruption of the busy road.
It means that anyone who enters a highway and attaches themselves to any item or structure on it, as well as anyone who assists them, can be held in contempt of court.
They might risk incarceration, an infinite fine, and the confiscation of their assets.
In recent weeks, Just Stop Oil’s pranks, which have included splashing orange paint on buildings and scaling a bridge to force the closure of the M25 Dartford Crossing, have garnered global notice and severe criticism.
The climate change activists disrupted London for 32 days between the end of September and the beginning of October, resulting in 677 arrests and 111 charges, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The demonstrators demanded that the government scrap its plans to license more than one hundred new oil and gas projects by 2025 and do more to assist citizens with their soaring energy prices.
