The fun’s over! Police FINALLY get tough as they immediately handcuff Just Stop Oil activists and haul them off major London roundabout – after mob blocked an ambulance on emergency call-out AGAIN
- Environmental activists from Just Stop Oil block roads around St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
- Police officers jump out of van, greet activists with a ‘hello mate, you alright?’ and immediately handcuff them
- Tougher response comes after chief told of his frustrations at not being able to shut down the demonstrations
- Today is campaign group’s 13th day in a row of protests that have already resulted in 300 arrests so far
Police finally gave a no-nonsense response to Just Stop Oil protesters blocking a major roundabout today, jumping out of a van before greeting the activists with a ‘hello mate, you alright?’ and immediately handcuffing them.
Scotland Yard, which had been criticised by motorists for a slow response during the 13 days in a row of action by the environmental group in London, said it today deployed a ‘rapid intervention’ to arrest 20 demonstrators.
The protest at St George’s Circus in Southwark today began at the tail end of rush hour at 9am before the roads were cleared by 10.40am – with some protesters delaying their removal by gluing themselves to the surface.
The tougher response comes after the UK’s top police chief yesterday told of his frustration at not being able to shut down the demonstrations blocking roads – and insisted officers should not give protesters cups of tea.
New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley had said he would ‘love to’ quickly close down the Just Stop Oil protests instead of having to commit ‘enormous’ resources, but he lacked the legal power to do so.
Before they were remove today, the activists caused a furious bust-up between drivers while blocking the key junction in South London on their 13th day in a row of protests which have now resulted in more than 350 arrests.
One man pushed a protester, before a second witness shouted: ‘Don’t touch him, oi, leave him alone. What do you think you’re f***ing doing? Let the police deal with it.’ The man replied: ‘Where’s the f***ing police then?’
But the other man said: You can’t f***ing attack them like that, you can’t touch them, you can’t f***ing physically attack them. Stupid c***.’ Passers-by also ripped banners from the group, before further people gave them back.
The demonstrators established a series of roadblocks from 9am this morning on routes around the St George’s Circus junction, which is located between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle Underground stations.
An ambulance on an emergency call also appeared to be blocked by the protest today, with a video showing it sitting stationary with its flashing blue lights on. The junction is about 1,000 yards from St Thomas’ Hospital.
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters are removed from St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations continue
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
A police officer comes up to a Just Stop Oil protester at St George’s Circus today, before immediately handcuffing him
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
A man pushes a Just Stop Oil activist away from St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as they carry out a protest
The man is then challenged by another onlooker this morning who tells him not to touch the Just Stop Oil protesters
An onlooker shouts at the man to stay away from the protesters during the Just Stop Oil demonstration in Southwark today
A man rips a banner from Just Stop Oil protesters this morning who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
Police remove Just Stop Oil protesters blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their action continues
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
A cyclist shows his support for the Just Stop Oil protesters blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark today as he praises them
A police officer speaks to a Just Stop Oil protester who had been blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police speak to a Just Stop Oil protester blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark today as their demonstrations continue
But a cyclist came up to the activists and fist bumped them, saying: ‘Thank you, nice one, thank you man, thank you, cheers mate, I live round here and I really appreciate this. The filth that is pumped out. Really appreciate it.’
The activists continued to sit on the roads with banners and some glued themselves to the Tarmac, as they continued their campaign demanding that the Government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.
In a video released by Just Stop Oil, one witness backing the activists said: ‘It’s amazing. It wasn’t there about five minutes ago. And then they all have lined up each exit and suddenly just masses, of Metropolitan Police have kind of filed every exit. I don’t know what they’re going to do, they’re dragging people, they’re forcing them to move.
‘But they’re not going anywhere, they’re sat pretty firm, which is quite incredible. But they are literally picking people up and moving them. It happened so quickly, there was absolutely nothing here about five minutes ago and then it’s all just descended. There’s traffic all the way back. But they’re doing an incredible job.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said at 10.20am today: ‘The Met has rapidly deployed to today’s protests at St George’s Circus near Blackfriars at 9.30am. Officers have arrested 11 people so far. Westminster Bridge Road has limited access. Officers are working as quickly as possible to get traffic flowing again. Some protesters have glued themselves to the ground. Our specialist teams are on scene and are working quickly to remove them.’
The force then gave an update at 10.40am to confirm the road was clear, saying: ‘As of 10.40am, rapid intervention by officers resulted in the removal and arrest of all 20 Just Stop Oil protesters, including ten who had glued themselves to the road. All lanes at St George’s Circus are now open and traffic flowing again.’
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
A man rips a banner from Just Stop Oil protesters this morning who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark
Police speak to a Just Stop Oil protester blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark today as their demonstrations continue
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
A queue of buses lined up next to St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as the Just Stop Oil protest is carried out
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
Just Stop Oil protesters are removed from St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations continue
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
A man speaks with a Just Stop Oil protester as the campaign group blocks St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Among the protesters was Jane Thewlis, 60, a retired social worker from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who said: ‘My life’s work has been to look after people and I can’t bear to see the suffering caused by climate breakdown.
‘People are being forced to visit food banks and unable to heat their homes. I have been seriously depressed to see this government add to their suffering while giving tax handouts to the wealthy. Just Stop Oil gives a simple message: no more oil and gas licences. Let’s start creating a world where we care for everyone.’
Manny McKenzie, 63, a retired child psychiatrist also from West Yorkshire, said: ‘I am taking action for the first time because it is clear to me that, given the urgency of the worsening climate crisis, and the inaction, paralysis and denial we are seeing from our political leaders, there is now no alternative.
‘Ending new oil and gas projects seems to me to be such a no-brainer. Allowing more oil and gas to be burned is going to fuel climate and ecological disaster with billions of people facing death and starvation, while decarbonising energy, transport and farming will protect us, increase our quality of life through greater resilience, community and healthier environment, and set an example for others to follow.’
And Sally Hayes, 66, a grandmother and shop owner from Hebden Bridge, said: ‘We have two to three years left to take decisive action to prevent complete catastrophic climate breakdown. This government is behaving with criminal irresponsibility in granting licenses for more fossil fuel extraction against all scientific advice.
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
Just Stop Oil protesters are confronted by members of the public as they block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
A queue of buses lined up next to St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as the Just Stop Oil protest is carried out
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police remove and arrest members of Just Stop Oil after they blocked roads at St George’s Circus in Southwark today
A man speaks with a Just Stop Oil protester as the campaign group blocks St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters are removed from St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations continue
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters stop motorists getting through as they block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
‘I can’t just stand by and watch the destruction of this wonderful world and all our children’s lives. I can’t bear to think of the life my lovely little granddaughter has before her. We’ve had our lives, and bear collective responsibility for this catastrophe. How can we do this to our children?’
No tea for activists, says Met Police chief
The UK’s top police chief yesterday told of his frustration at not being able to shut down demonstrations blocking roads – and insisted officers should not give protesters cups of tea.
New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he would ‘love to’ quickly close down protests instead of having to commit ‘enormous’ resources, but he lacks the legal power to do so.
He told a London Assembly committee he was annoyed that officers had to wait until protests by the groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion were deemed to meet a legal threshold of causing major disruption before stepping in.
Sir Mark said his officers could not be ‘more assertive’ – despite Just Stop Oil blocking traffic in London for 13 days in a row. Under the law, Transport for London and local councils have to say that an action causes ‘serious disruption’ to the lives of local communities before the police can disperse demonstrators.
Asked about claims officers had handed out tea, Sir Mark said: ‘I do not think we should do that. It’s not our responsibility.’ He said: ‘The fact I’ve been putting 200 officers a day into policing this – I don’t welcome that… But I have to work [within] the legal framework.’
Today’s sit-down protest is the 13th day of consecutive demonstrations by Just Stop Oil activists in which there have been more than 357 arrests – including today’s.
Yesterday, two Just Stop Oil activists were arrested, as well as 25 people from Insulate Britain which returned to the roads following a 13-month absence and established a roadblock on Parliament Square.
Just Stop Oil said that since its campaign began on April 1, there have been more than 1,600 arrests.
A spokesman said: ‘This is not a one day event, this is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.
‘We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people. Our supporters understand that these are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities.’
Yesterday, the UK’s top police chief told of his frustration at not being able to shut down demonstrations blocking roads – and insisted officers should not give protesters cups of tea.
New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he would ‘love to’ quickly close down protests instead of having to commit ‘enormous’ resources, but he lacks the legal power to do so.
He told a London Assembly committee he was annoyed that officers had to wait until protests by the groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion were deemed to meet a legal threshold of causing major disruption before stepping in.
Despite Just Stop Oil protesters blocking traffic in Knightsbridge on Tuesday on their 11th day of disruption which resulted in the delaying of an ambulance, a fire engine and a car carrying a sick baby to hospital, Sir Mark said his officers could not be ‘more assertive’.
Activists have blocked bridges and roads in Westminster, glued themselves to a roof of a police car in Piccadilly Circus and closed down The Mall in front of Buckingham Place.
But under the law, the Metropolitan Police’s partners, Transport for London and local council have to say that it causes ‘serious disruption’ to the lives of those in local communities before the police can disperse them.
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
A queue of buses lined up next to St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as the Just Stop Oil protest is carried out
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
A queue of buses lined up next to St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as the Just Stop Oil protest is carried out
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
Police take away Just Stop Oil protesters who are blocking St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
A man speaks with a Just Stop Oil protester as the campaign group blocks St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning
Just Stop Oil protesters block St George’s Circus in Southwark this morning as their demonstrations in London continue
When asked whether officers should be handing out cups of tea to protesters, Sir Mark said: ‘I do not think we should do that. It’s not our responsibility.’
He said: ‘This has been a really difficult operation over the 11 days so far. And it annoys me how much it’s taking away from policing local communities.
‘In 11 days we have put 2,156 officer days into doing this, so that’s a couple of hundred (of officers) per day roughly.
‘That’s an enormous amount of policing resources that aren’t tackling issues that matter to local communities, aren’t dealing with knife crime, aren’t dealing with violence against women and girls.’
He told the committee: ‘The law is very clear that just blocking a road in itself isn’t automatically serious disruption and, whilst it’s committing some offences, in terms of obstruction of the highway, those aren’t prosecutable if it’s a lawful protest as long as it doesn’t exceed reasonable bounds.
‘And that’s the judgments police officers have to make the whole time.
YESTERDAY — A Just Stop Oil protester climbs on top of a police van outside the rear gate of Downing Street yesterday
TUESDAY — A man remonstrates with Just Stop Oil protesters on the road at a major junction in London’s Knightsbridge
MONDAY — Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall near Buckingham Palace
OCTOBER 9 — Protesters block the road in a demonstration at Piccadilly Circus in London
OCTOBER 8 — A man is removed by police during a Just Stop Oil protest at Green Park
OCTOBER 7 — Just Stop Oil activists block Vauxhall Bridge Road in Central London last week
OCTOBER 6 — Just Stop Oil activists at Trafalgar Square in London as their protests continue
OCTOBER 5 — Police speak to Just Stop Oil protesters block a road leading into Westminster
OCTOBER 4 — Climate activists from Just Stop Oil block the roads around Parliament Square
OCTOBER 3 — Police try to move Just Stop Oil protesters blocking roads in Trafalgar Square
OCTOBER 2 — Police wach as Just Stop Oil of protesters occupy Waterloo Bridge in London
OCTOBER 1 — Activists occupy Parliament Square as Just Stop Oil carry out more protests
‘The fact I’ve been putting 200 officers a day into policing this, I don’t welcome that, that’s not good for London’s communities, frankly. But I have to work with the legal framework.
‘I would love to be able to close these down more quickly and spend less policing resources on it at the moment, and as soon as partners who have the expertise to assess the impact on the road network and the road services, as soon as they say this is heading towards crossing the line, we’ll be in there straightaway. But until that point, I don’t have a legal power to do that.’
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she expects police to use the ‘full powers’ given to them by the Government.
She branded the actions of demonstrators from Just Stop Oil in Knightsbridge as ‘self-defeating’ and ‘completely indefensible’.
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