Police FINALLY confront Just Stop Oil eco-mob causing travel chaos in London as they order them off road but activists refuse to obey – as protests resume today
- Group has caused chaos in London by slow marching every day since April 24
- Scotland Yard said it has imposed condition under S12 of the Public Order Act
Police officers have confronted Just Stop Oil environmental activists causing traffic mayhem as they ordered them off the road – but the activists refused to obey.
The eco group has caused chaos across London by slow marching every day since April 24, frustrating drivers and bus passengers trying to get around the capital.
Yesterday, Scotland Yard told a group that it had imposed a condition on the march under Section 12 of the Public Order Act – ordering them to get on the pavement.
But the activists argued with police, saying the order should be imposed on an area rather than the march itself – and asked to speak to the Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector behind it, who later turned up and explained the decision in more detail.
And they continued their protests this morning – with 55 protesters marching from Regent Street and Parliament Square at 7.30am and further marches expected later.
Just Stop Oil activists talk with Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Chris Scammell about a Section 12 condition as they slow march again in London yesterday, causing traffic chaos
Yesterday, a video posted by Just Stop Oil on its Twitter page began with a police officer telling a protester: ‘A Section 12 condition has been imposed on this march under the Public Order Act by Chief Inspector Scammell.
‘So the condition that has been put on the march is that you have to march on the pavement. If you don’t, people that are marching on the road will be liable for arrest. That was imposed at 10.27am.’
What is Section 12 of the Public Order Act?
A Section 12 order under the Public Order Act 1986 relates to ‘imposing conditions on public processions’. It states:
- If the senior police officer, having regard to the time or place at which and the circumstances in which any public procession is being held or is intended to be held and to its route or proposed route, reasonably believes that –
- (a) it may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community, or
- (b) the purpose of the persons organising it is the intimidation of others with a view to compelling them not to do an act they have a right to do, or to do an act they have a right not to do, he may give directions imposing on the persons organising or taking part in the procession such conditions as appear to him necessary to prevent such disorder, damage, disruption or intimidation, including conditions as to the route of the procession or prohibiting it from entering any public place specified in the directions.
One protester said: ‘Is the Chief Inspector not able to come and give it to everyone?’ The officer said ‘no’.
Another activist then said: ‘I’m sorry but our trust right now in the Metropolitan Police is very low, I don’t know if you’ve heard, so I’d like the Bronze Commander to issue the Section 12.’
Another officer then said: ‘Whether you’ve got trust or not, that doesn’t really matter.’
The protester replied: ‘I understand but the Bronze Commander is over there.’
But the officer insisted: ‘Bronze doesn’t have to come and tell you that in person.’
The protester said: ‘But how do I know that a Section 12 has been issued?’
And the officer said: ‘I told you that, I just told you. I gave you the name of the inspector who’s authorised it. I can give you a time of it.’
The protester then said: ‘Which borough is it for, what is the jurisdiction?’ And the officer told him: ‘At the moment it’s for this street.’
The officer was pressed for further details, and said: ‘Officer 2 – The order is you can protest. But you can only protest on the sidewalk.
‘If you protest in the middle of the road you are liable for arrest, that’s what it is. It’s been authorised at 10.27 this morning.’
The video then cut to Chief Inspector Chris Scammell turning up at the scene. He said: ‘I’m Chief Inspector Scammell, OK. We’ve assessed your march from cameras and TfL, there’s been significant disruption.
‘It’s reached the point where I’ve now put a Section 12 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. Your procession must proceed on the footway.’
While Chief Inspector Scammell quoted Section 12 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, the 1994 law of this name relates to ‘escort arrangements and officers’ for young offenders.
So it is believed he actually meant to refer to Section 12 order under the Public Order Act 1986 which relates to ‘imposing conditions on public processions’.
Just Stop Oil supporters close the streets as they slow march in Central London yesterday
A group of Just Stop Oil activists protest outside Waterloo station in London yesterday
This issue on the exact law was not mentioned by the protesters, but one of the activists then asked him: ‘What borough does this cover and until what time?’ Chief Inspector Scammell replied: ‘It’s this procession for now.’
READ MORE — Angry commuters blast Just Stop Oil activists for ‘stopping us from working’ as 90 eco-zealots cause gridlock by ‘slow marching’ through London
But the protester said: ‘It doesn’t cover the procession, it covers an area.’
However, Chief Inspector Scammell insisted: ‘No, this procession needs to go on the footway. We have evidence of everyone in this procession.’
Another protester said: ‘I understand the procession element, but it has to be linked to an area.’
But Chief Inspector Scammell said: ‘No, it’s just the procession. I’m not putting any directions on your procession, just where it marches, because we don’t know where you going to go. So it’s this procession.’
They then had a similar back and forth where Chief Inspector Scammell insisted he was not banning the group from marching – just not on the road.
Today, Just Stop Oil activists continued their marching as they call for the Government to stop licensing any new fossil fuel projects in the UK.
Its press release said Sarah Benn, 56, a former NHS GP of 32 years from Birmingham, was among the activists today – and reported her as saying: ‘As a doctor I have dealt with many emergencies, and the first thing you do in that situation is to urgently remove what is causing or worsening the situation.
‘We face a climate and ecological emergency, yet our government sits on its hands and mouths platitudes – instead of taking the no-brainer first step of ending new fossil fuel licences.’
A group of Just Stop Oil activists protest outside Waterloo station in London yesterday
Just Stop Oil supporters close the streets as they demonstrate near Trafalgar Square yesterday
‘My youngest starts GCSEs this week but instead of being home supporting and encouraging him, I’m here slow-marching with Just Stop Oil – because I’m terrified for him. Good exam grades are pointless in the face of uncontrollable flooding and wildfires, crop failures, food shortages, the collapse of the NHS and everything we love.’
The group said that another one of those taking action today was Noah Crane, 18, an A-Level student from Norfolk, who said: ‘We have seen time and again that words are not sufficient to bring about necessary social change. The people who are both the most powerful and the most greedy in the world are making billions from selling our futures; they aren’t going to stop just because we ask nicely. We have to demand it.’
‘If, throughout all of human history, there has ever been a time to take action, it is now.’
Just Stop Oil said that since its campaign began on April 1 last year, there have been more than 2,100 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison.
It added that there are currently two Just Stop Oil supporters and four Insulate Britain supporters serving prison sentences for resisting new oil, gas and coal.
Karen Findlay, Commander of Major Operations and Public Order at Scotland Yard, tweeted today: ‘We are aware as of 7.40am of a group of about ten Just Stop Oil protestors in Parliament Square slow walking in one lane.
‘Officers immediately on scene. All protestors directed to the pavement and cleared off the carriageway within 12 minutes. Traffic moving normally.’
She added soon after: ‘We are aware of a further two groups of Just Stop Oil protestors slow marching in Parliament Square (different group to previous one) and Grosvenor Square. Police are on scene. Sec 12 conditions and directions to get immediately onto the pavement issued.’
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