Police ordered to keep the fuel flowing

WITH three days of fuel protests due to start this morning, police chiefs have been instructed by the Government to keep roads leading to oil refi neries open and take fi rm action against any attempt to prevent tankers leaving the terminals.

After oil companies admitted yesterday that they were struggling to cope because of widespread panic buying by motorists, ministers reviewed contingency plans to prevent a repeat of the disruption caused by the fuel blockades five years ago.

Fuel suppliers said they had faced a week’s demand in just one day as long queues formed outside petrol stations across the country.

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, rejected calls for an emergency cut in fuel duty. But he held out the prospect that the current duty freeze would be extended when it was reviewed as part of the pre-Budget report in late November.

He told the TUC Congress in Brighton that the Government understood the problems being faced by hauliers, farmers and motorists at a time when oil prices were doubling. He insisted that Britain had sufficient supplies of petrol and diesel.

Mr Brown said high oil prices were a “ global problem” and called for concerted international action to bring down world oil prices and stabilise the market for the long term.

He said he would be calling on oil-producing countries to agree to raise production at an Opec meeting on Sept 19.

There was growing concern in the Government last night that appeals for calm had failed to dissuade motorists that there was no national shortage of fuel.

“The only real risk at the moment comes from panic buying,” a Government source said.

Tony Blair, who flew last night to New York for a United Nations summit, was briefed on the contingency preparations at the fi rst meeting of the Cabinet since the summer break.

Ministers believe that they will have public backing for a tough stance against the protesters, including action to keep supplies moving. The Chancellor said people wanted “ stability, not disorder”.

After the Cabinet meeting, officials stressed the Government’s determination to avoid a repetition of the widespread disruption caused by the fuel blockades in September 2000 when the country was brought to the brink of a standstill.

Officials said the authorities were much better prepared for the protests and the police would come down hard on any refi nery blockades.

“Every preparation has been taken. We have learnt all the lessons from last time,” a spokesman said.

If supplies were disrupted, the Government might impose a £20 minimum purchase limit to deter motorists from repeatedly “topping up” their tanks. Preparations are also being made for reserved fi lling stations for essential public service workers.

Organisers of the fuel protests have refused to name the oil refi neries where they will stage demonstrations, although one of their leaders has pledged that there will be no blockades this time.

Andrew Spence, a farmer and haulier from Consett, County Durham, said he was planning peaceful protests at selected refi neries around the country from 6am today.

“We are not going to restrict any thoroughfare of fuel whatsoever,” he said.

On Friday Welsh hauliers hope to create rush-hour tailbacks stretching 50 miles by staging a go-slow on the M4 in Wales.

Dyfed Powys Police and Gwent Police said they would take “ fi rm action” to keep traffic moving. Blocking the highway or preventing companies going about their business was unlawful, as was the disruption of essential goods and services that relied on oil, they said.

Ministers drew comfort from indications last night that the protest leaders were failing to secure widespread backing for blockades of oil refi neries.

David Handley, the founder of Farmers For Action, said he would not be taking part in the protests because he did not believe demonstrations would make any difference to Government policy.