Met wants to proscute 1,100 climate protesters

Scotland Yard will push for the prosecution of more than 1,100 people arrested over last month’s Extinction Rebellion protests.

So far more than 70 activists have been charged in connection with the demonstrations that brought parts of London to a standstill and cost the force at least £ 7.5 million.

T h e g r o u p ’s t a c t i c s included asking volunteers to deliberately get arrested to cause maximum disruption at roadblocks on Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, while others glued themselves to trains and buildings.

Some 1,130 people were arrested during the protests over 10 days in April as 10,000 police officers were deployed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the Metropolitan Police will be pushing for the prosecution of every one of them.

H e s a i d : “We h a v e charged over 70. All the others are currently under investigation and we have got a dedicated unit of around 30 officers who are investigating those offences.”

Mr Taylor also called for a stronger punishment of those who break the law, with summary only charges for offences.