As a police officer was injured responding to a third day of protests by climate campaign group Just Stop Oil on the M25 on Wednesday morning, a Hertfordshire Police spokesman said “additional measures” would allow “legitimate means” to cover the protests. Essex Police said there was a collision with the motorcyclist and two lorries during an activist-led rolling barricade on the London Ring Road between junctions 26 and 27. Just Stop Oil said around 10 of the supporters they had climbed onto bridges in various locations. Police in Hertfordshire said the protests were causing “significant disruption and potential harm” to the public and that officers were “instructed to act as quickly as they can, using their professional judgement, to clear any potential protesters. “The horrific incident in Essex today, where an officer was injured, highlights this,” the force said. “However, Chief Constable Charlie Hall acknowledges the concerns about the recent arrests of journalists who arrived at these locations and were present with protesters at the scenes. Additional measures are now in place to ensure that legitimate media outlets are able to do their jobs,” he added. “Furthermore, Mr Hall is today calling for an independent force to review our approach to these arrests and identify any learning we need to take in managing these difficult situations.” LBC journalist Charlotte Lynch on Tuesday became the third journalist arrested in two days by Hertfordshire Police while covering the Just Stop Oil protests. Speaking to LBC on Wednesday morning, Leeds said she was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance despite being in a public place, some distance from the protesters and showing officers a valid press ID. Her arrest drew criticism of the police from the National Union of Journalists, human rights group Liberty and a minister. “This is the second incident in as many days where police have threatened freedom of the press and ignored the right of journalists to cover protests,” said Michelle Stanisstreet, NUJ general secretary. “No journalist should have to fear being put in a cell for doing their job and it is time the police took immediate action to ensure this is prevented in the future. We have raised this directly with the national council of police chiefs and the police forces involved.” Jun Pang, policy and campaigns manager at Liberty, said the arrests were “allowed and encouraged by the government’s dangerous attack on protest rights. “The reports we have heard about the arrests of journalists are deeply disturbing,” Pang said. “Press, film crews and journalists should be able to cover protests without fear of their footage being harassed, confiscated or arrested.” Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, told LBC police were wrong to make the arrest. “Journalists should not be arrested for doing their job,” he said. “We are defenders of freedom of speech.” Leeds’ arrest is believed to be the eighth of a journalist covering actions by Just Stop Oil, whose supporters are waging a campaign of disruptive protests to force the government to introduce a moratorium on all new oil and gas licences. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. On Monday, police in Hertfordshire arrested Rich Felgate, a documentary maker, and Tom Bowles, a photographer, also while covering protests on the M25. Lynch said she was taken to Stevenage police station where she was fingerprinted, photographed and DNA samples taken. He said he was questioned about how he knew he was at the protest, with the implication being that he should have told police about the planned demonstration, but that he refused to give officers any information. “It’s not the journalists’ job to do the police work for them,” he said. She was released after five hours without further action. The arrests of journalists are the latest in a series of measures to reduce the impact of the Just Stop Oil campaign, including preventive arrests, injunctions banning demonstrations and a new public order bill that will introduce additional offenses related to with protests. Just Stop Oil said its campaigners would not be deterred. “This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and its genocidal plan of death,” the group said. “Our supporters will be back – today, tomorrow and the day after that – and the day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.” The Guardian has contacted LBC for comment.
