Dozens charged after protests at oil depots

DOZENS of climate activists have been charged after arrests were made at protests at oil depots.

The activists say they arrived in the early hours yesterday at the Kingsbury terminal, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, as well as at the Navigator Oil terminal in Thurrock and Grays oil terminal, both in Essex.

Pictures from Just Stop Oil, a group of climate activists affiliated with Extinction Rebellion, show people in orange hi-vis jackets on top of oil tankers and blockading roads, while holding signs.

Essex Police say a further 12 people aged 19 to 64 have been charged following the protests, bringing the total to 23. They are accused of either interfering with a motor vehicle and wilful obstruction of a highway or aggravated trespass.

The force said 28 people were arrested yesterday, bringing the total number of arrests made since April 1 to 454.

Warwickshire Police said 12 arrests had been made.

It comes after Valero Energy was granted an injunction against a number of environmental groups and “persons unknown” earlier this week following recent protests at the Kingsbury terminal.

It bans anyone from damaging any part of the land at each of the firm’s sites, from “affixing themselves to any other person or object” on the land or parts of access roads, and from building any structure.

Valero also owns and operates sites in Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth and Avonmouth.

Activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been blocking access to oil terminals, demanding that the Government stops new oil and gas projects.

A dozen activists were said to be at the scene in Tamworth and had locked themselves on to pipes, while roadblocks and “tanker-surfing” has taken place at the sites in Essex.

Officers remained in Thurrock, where a small number of people continued to protest. Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: “It is anticipated the road network will be busy today and in the coming days, as people travel and spend time with family and friends during the bank holiday weekend. Our dedicated officers will continue to work across the weekend to keep Essex moving, keep people safe and minimise disruption to the public.” He added: “As demonstrated this week, if you come to Essex and engage in disruptive and dangerous protest, we will arrest you.”

Warwickshire Police said: “Officers remain at Kingsbury Oil Terminal today and are currently dealing with protest activity after a number of protesters arrived overnight.”

Climate change protesters also blocked four of London’s busiest bridges on the first day of the Easter bank holiday.

Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists were on Waterloo, Blackfriars, Lambeth and Westminster bridges, calling for an end to new fossil fuel investments.

Demonstrators playing bongos and waving banners reading “end fossil fuels now” and “love in action” have been pictured facing queues of traffic, headed by double-decker buses. The Metropolitan Police said they were attempting to control the disruption.