‘Eco-thugs’ are waging war against the British people, says Patel
PRITI PATEL has hit out at eco-protesters who caused major disruption by tunnelling under and blocking roads near a major oil refinery in Essex.
The Home Secretary accused the demonstrators of “waging a war against British people” after food deliveries and other businesses were affected by road closures near the Dartford Crossing.
Members of the Just Stop Oil group brought chaos to the area on Sunday night after tunnelling under two roads in an attempt to shut down the Navigator oil storage depot in Grays. Green campaigners also climbed on to an oil tanker after letting its tyres down, blocking roads leading to a large industrial site.
Essex Police initially stopped all vehicles to ensure the safety of the activists, who said that the tunnels could collapse at any time.
The area is home to a large number of transport supply firms and the disruption affected other businesses including newspaper printworks and grocery suppliers.
Eight people were arrested by Essex Police for causing an obstruction but a number of protestors remain underground in the tunnels, meaning that there could be further disruption to come.
Ms Patel said: “These thugs and socalled eco-warriors are waging a war against the British people by going out of their way with planned disruptions affecting our daily way of life – our freedoms, our free press. They are in the wrong.
“They should all be stopped, in my view. This is a symptomatic illustration of lawlessness in our country, where it’s seen as OK for these people to behave in this way. It is not OK.
“The police must impose the full force of the law and not allow these protesters to get on site. There are laws in place which should be used. Laws including arrest for aggravated trespass exist and my public order Bill will bring in new criminal offences for these tactics and protests.
“They are causing criminal damage and have criminal intent in the acts they are participating in.”
In a video posted online, one of the protesters can be seen resisting calls from the police to leave the tunnel.
Asked when he intends to come out he replies: “We will come out when the Government makes [a] statement that they are going to stop all future contracts for the exploration of fossil fuels.”