Tories to ‘throw the book’ at eco-activists with Asbo-style sanction
ECO-ACTIVISTS face Asbo-style court orders that will ban them from travelling around the UK to mount disruptive protests under plans to be announced today by Priti Patel.
The Home Secretary will unveil the criminal disruption protection orders targeted at protesters such as Insulate Britain who have evaded injunctions and used loopholes in laws to cause traffic chaos by blocking motorways and roads.
At the Tory party conference, Ms Patel will also announce a new offence of criminal interference in critical national infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports and airports as well as printing presses to prevent distribution of newspapers.
The new offences – to be included in the Government’s new crime Bill – are expected to carry jail sentences of up to six months and/or unlimited fines, enabling police to remand protesters in custody to prevent them mounting repeat offences after being bailed.
It follows the announcement that the maximum sentence for obstruction of a highway will be increased from a £1,000 fine to six months in prison and/ or an unlimited financial penalty.
Ms Patel will say: “Freedom to protest is a fundamental right our party will forever fight to uphold. But it must be within the law. Measures already going through Parliament will ensure these criminals can be brought to justice for the disruption they are causing. But we are going further to close down the legal loopholes exploited by these offenders.”
A Tory source said: “We are throwing the book at them. Never again will the police be able to say they don’t have enough powers to deal with protesters.”
The new criminal disruption protection orders echo the anti-social behaviour orders introduced by Tony Blair in 1996 to impose curfews and restrictions on thugs terrorising communities.
The proposals, due to come into force next year, follow blockades of the M25,
M1, M4 and roads leading to Dover by Insulate Britain.
Yesterday the founder of Extinction Rebellion said he would block the path of an ambulance carrying a dying patient, after a tearful driver pleaded with climate protesters to let her see her 81-yearold mother in a Kent hospital. Roger Hallam said that not only would he not move for the woman in yesterday’s protests, he would also block an ambulance even if there was a patient inside who could die as a result of his actions.
Members of Insulate Britain targeted four roads in London yesterday, including Wandsworth Bridge where motorists dragged the demonstrators out of the road before police arrived.