His supporters are climbing crane bridges in various locations, forcing police to close huge sections of the road for security while officers clear the activists away. “From today, Just Stop Oil will cease its campaign of political resistance on the M25. We are giving time to those in government who are in touch with reality to reflect on their responsibilities to this country at this time,” the group said today. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:56 Queue caused by Just Stop Oil “We ask the Prime Minister to take note of his statement at COP27 where he spoke of the catastrophic threat posed by global warming, the 33 million people displaced by the floods in Pakistan and the moral and economic imperative to honor our commitments . “You cannot recycle words and promises – you owe it to the British people to act. “Today is Memorial Day, we invite you to honor all those who have served and loved their country. Take the necessary first step to ensure a sustainable future and stop new oil and gas.” The group did not say whether campaigners would resume action on the M25 if their demands are not met. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:36 Boosting climate finance is ‘right’ The protests began on Monday as the latest COP27 international climate change summit began in Egypt. Dozens of people took part in the protests and were arrested – despite the Metropolitan Police “preemptively” arresting activists suspected of planning the action. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the action was “criminality”, not protest. “This was a very significant and concerted effort to cause massive disruption across the entire M25,” he said. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:41 Just Stop Oil back on the M25 Essex Police made several arrests on a stretch of the M25 during the group’s four-day campaign. Its chief constable, BJ Harrington, told Sky News that the group’s actions were “illegal” and “dangerous”, warning that the protesters were not only putting their lives at risk, but also those of motorists and police. A police officer was injured in a collision with two trucks while responding to freeway protests on Wednesday. Campaigner Indigo Rumbelow told Sky News’ Mark Austin on Thursday that the climate crisis is going to get “worse and worse and worse if we don’t act”. He accepted the disruption was not “pleasant”, adding: “We feel empathy for all those people out there”, but insisted action was necessary for the government to listen. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:56 Just Stop Oil: “Do you love your children?” National Highways said it was costing it “a lot of money” to deal with the Just Stop Oil protests. He secured a High Court injunction to prevent protesters from disrupting England’s busiest motorway. The court issued a further injunction aimed at stopping illegal protests on the M25, which rings Greater London, in a bid to end disruption of the busy road by the environmental group. It means that anyone who enters the highway and attaches to any object or structure thereon, and anyone who assists in such an act, may be held in contempt of court. They could face jail time, an unlimited fine and asset forfeiture.
