A police officer on a motorcycle was injured in a collision with two lorries on the M25 as Just Stop Oil protesters scaled stations over the road for a third day. Essex Police said a police officer was hit after confronting a protester on the motorway between junctions 26 and 27 on Wednesday morning. A roadblock was put in place, resulting in a collision between two trucks and a police car. Two protesters were arrested. “Our road policing officers are dedicated, specialist officers who come to work to serve the public and keep you safe on our roads,” said Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow. “They do this tirelessly, every day. Unfortunately, this morning one of these fantastic officers was injured while performing this task.
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“My thoughts are with them and their family.” A witness told MailOnline that a woman began climbing a concrete pole and a police officer on a motorcycle “pulled over to try and stop her” before colliding with a lorry, which crashed into another lorry. “They arrested the woman before she could get on the skeleton,” the witness said. A police officer was injured after an accident involving a truck / Essex Police He added: “Someone is going to die soon.” The following junctions were closed from 10.30am: Junction 12 closed clockwise, Junction 25 to 27 closed clockwise and Junction 29 to 31 closed in both directions. Kent Police said there is disruption left-hand at Dartford Crossing and motorists are being advised to take alternative routes. The Metropolitan Police suspect a person is locked on a bridge between junction 24 and 25. “Locks add more complexity for removal teams and the overall process becomes longer. We had to bring in specialist equipment for this removal, including a JCB.” Surrey Police are working to remove two protesters who have climbed onto the bridges between junction 13 and 14. The road has been temporarily closed. Protesters between junction 9 and 8 and junction 30 were brought down and arrested for public nuisance. The National Highways Agency said: “We are working with police forces in each area to bring these incidents to an end. Consider delaying your journey or consider alternative routes.” The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday: “We know this disturbance is incredibly frustrating for the public. We will act as quickly as possible to remove any people who intend to block the road and get traffic moving again.” Just Stop Oil said around 10 supporters climbed onto cranes forcing police to stop traffic at 6.30am. It is part of the group’s campaign calling on the government to halt all new oil and gas licenses and consents. Isabel Rock, 41, an artist from South London said: “The government is responsible for criminal inaction on the climate crisis. They should be in jail, not me. It is my moral duty to cause a disturbance to force the government to act.” Sam Holland, 20, said: “I’m confused. I am twenty years old. What does my future look like when I’m forty? There seems to be no food on the shelves. It looks like people are fighting in the streets.” On Tuesday 16 protesters were arrested after climbing crane bridges on the M25 and blocking traffic at nine locations. Since early October, the Met has used more than 11,000 officer shifts to police Just Stop Oil protests. “These are officers who would otherwise be dealing with issues of importance to local communities such as knife crime, protection and tackling burglaries,” Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said. “We are determined to bring to justice anyone who conspires to cause significant and unreasonable disruption to London and the motorway network and will work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to ensure this happens.” Twenty-two people have already been charged as part of the M25 protests.
