Use ‘full force of law’ against protesters, Javid tells Met
SAJID JAVID last night urged police to use the “full force of the law” against environmental activists bringing “misery to millions” as they threatened to extend the protests to Heathrow on one of the year’s busiest weekends.
The Home Secretary told Cressida Dick, the Met Commissioner, that he expected police to “take a firm stance”. His intervention comes after the force faced mounting criticism for its lenient approach to the protests, including footage of officers dancing with the climate change demonstrators.
Extinction Rebellion (XR), the group behind the action, said it would target Heathrow today, just as around 500,000 people are expected to fly out of the airport for Easter breaks over the bank holiday weekend.
Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, who was accused of “aggravating” the protests with earlier tacit support, last night pleaded with them to “co-operate” with the police and not go ahead with the action. “I’m extremely concerned by reports that climate protesters are planning to disrupt Heathrow,” he said. “This is extremely dangerous, illegal and is putting an unacceptable toll on our police force and our city.”
“I support the democratic right to peaceful protest and agree that governments need to do more to tackle climate change but these protests are now putting Londoners’ safety at risk.”
Scotland Yard has deployed more than 1,000 officers and cancelled Easter weekend leave but has failed to remove the protesters from their illegal four-day occupation of four London locations including Parliament Square. After meeting with Ms Dick yesterday, Mr Javid said: “I expect the police to take a firm stance and use the full force of the law. They have my full backing in doing so. I have spoken to the Met Commissioner today to offer her whatever support she may need.
“Let me be clear – I totally condemn any protesters who are stepping outside the boundaries of the law. They have no right to cause misery for the millions of people who are trying to
lead their daily lives. Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Everyone has the right to protest peacefully ... But people do not have the right to break the law and significantly disrupt the lives of others.”
The Met has called on other forces for extra officers to support its operation and keep Heathrow open. It warned it would take “robust” and “firm” action against anyone obstructing routes to the airport or flights.
A Met spokesman said: “We will not allow the illegal activities of protesters to cause further disruption and misery to thousands of travellers, many of them families, over Easter.
“We would urge any protester planning to attend Heathrow to strongly reconsider.”
Scotland Yard arrested more than 460 protesters at the Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square protests.
However, police admitted yesterday the protests were “increasing in intensity” as activists started launching socalled “swarming roadblocks” where they stand in front of other major junctions to unfurl banners and block junctions.
XR organisers said they were summoning “thousands more” demonstrators to be arrested.
Lord Stevens, the former Met Commissioner, urged the force to abandon its lenient approach, adding that the resulting transport chaos was “absolutely beyond acceptance”.
He said: “Where the mistake has been made is to give them the authority or give them the ability to do this. And what’s happened is they’ve stayed there,” he said during an interview with LBC radio.
He added that the stalemate between police and protesters had become so entrenched that the time may have come for politicians to meet leaders of the group and then encourage them to break up the protests.