58 arrests as protest group calls halt to M25 campaign

A TOTAL of 58 people have been charged after the four-day, Just Stop Oil (JSO) protests which shut down parts of the M25 this week.

The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested 63 people during a “major operation to tackle serious disruption” by JSO which yesterday announced it was halting what it called its campaign of civil resistance on the motorway.

Over the last four days environmental activists have climbed gantries above the motorway, forcing it to close in several places.

The Met said 11 people who have been charged were due to appear at various courts yesterday.

In a statement, the group said it was halting its M25 campaign to give the Government time to consider their responsibilities, adding: “We ask that the Prime Minister consider his statement at Cop27, where he spoke of the catastrophic threat posed by the ravages of global heating, the 33 million people displaced by floods in Pakistan, and the moral and economic imperative to honour our pledges.”

A police officer was injured during Wednesday’s protests. Essex Police said there was a collision involving the police motorcyclist and two lorries during a rolling roadblock. Chief Constable BJ Harrington warned it is “only a matter of time” before someone is killed during a JSO protest.

Chief Supt Simon Anslow, the senior officer leading operations on the Essex section of the M25 this week, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who was making their way to work or school or anywhere else on the M25 this week for their patience and for the support they’ve shown to our officers.”

On Friday, JSO said: “The supporters of Just Stop Oil are now the people upholding law and order and protecting civil society. Under British law, people in this country have a right to cause disruption to prevent greater harm – we will not stand by.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday his Government is “moving ahead” with legislation to give the police more powers to stop protests by groups such as JSO.