Priti threatens prison for climate change activists who block roads and cost millions
THE Home Secretary has announced that the Government could jail climate change protesters who have been blocking Britain’s motorways, putting lives at risk and costing the taxpayer millions of pounds.
Priti Patel revealed the Government will table amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill this week to end the mass disruption caused by Insulate Britain and elements of the Extinction Rebellion movement.
The move is aimed at tackling “guerilla protests” such as those staged by Insulate Britain.
Under the new amendments to be tabled tomorrow, blocking a motorway could see someone jailed for up to six months and faced with an unlimited fine.
The current law sets the penalty at a maximum fine of £1,000, which is deemed an inadequate deterrent for organisations bent on widespread disruption.
Police will also have powers to stop and search people if they suspect them of carrying items including glue with the aim of causing “serious disruption”. Serious Disruption Prevention Orders will be introduced, which will give the courts the power to stop an individual with a history of serious disruption from attending certain protests.
Ms Patel said: “Nobody should have unchecked rights to endanger the public – and themselves – while causing misery for millions in the name of protest.
“There are numerous legitimate ways in which activists can peacefully campaign for meaningful change, and it is right that those who instead pursue a path of anti-social, dangerous disruption should face the prospect of jail.
“It is totally unacceptable that police should be spending their days ungluing faces from dangerous roads. They should be in our communities protecting the vulnerable people who need them most.
“That’s why our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is so necessary.the public expects everyone in Parliament to stand up for the hard-working, law-abiding majority.”
The move comes after a wave of protests by Insulate Britain that have seen motorways and major city roads blocked. In just their first four weeks of protests, Insulate Britain cost the Metropolitan Police alone £2million, with total arrests reaching nearly 850 to date.
The environmental extremists have also blocked ambulances carrying patients with life-threatening conditions, and superglued themselves to road surfaces in a bid to stop frustrated motorists pulling them away.
The police have also been criticised for failing to take action against protesters. They were warned by the Home Secretary to stop the “tea and chit-chat” and remove protesters from the road.
Insulate Britain is calling for the Government to insulate 26 million homes but is part of a wider Extinction Rebellion protest that has tried to block public transport and at one point took over roads around Westminster.
Extinction Rebellion protests have cost the taxpayer at least £70million over the past two years.