The Herald

Activists’ 60-hour oil protest leads to 31 arrests

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MORE than 30 people have been arrested and charged after climate activists blockaded an oil terminal for around 60 hours.

Just Stop Oil carried out the action at the Nustar Clydebank facility in

West Dunbartons­hire in support of their demand that the government doesn’t permit new oil and gas projects in the UK.

The protest began at about 4am on Tuesday when activists climbed on top of tankers and locked themselves on the entrance, while others entered the oil terminal and sat on pipes and various silos to halt operations.

Just Stop Oil said the protesters were there for around 60 hours before the action ended on Thursday.

The group claims it is the longest occupation of an oil terminal in the UK.

Police Scotland said 31 people were arrested and charged in connection with a number of offences.

The force said 15 people have been charged with breach of the peace and 16 with a contravent­ion of a section of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which relates to trespass and alleged malicious mischief.

Chief Superinten­dent Lynn Ratcliff said: “As a rights-based organisati­on, Police Scotland puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.

“This means that we will protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest, balanced against the rights of the wider community.”

Police said reports will be sent to the procurator fiscal in due course.

It was the first action of its kind in Scotland since the Just Stop Oil coalition began blockading fuel terminals south of the Border on April 1, leading to more than 1,000 arrests.

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