Just Stop Oil block roads in London as protests resume

Just Stop Oil supporters stopped traffic on two key routes in London on Monday - marking a resumption of protests after 18 days.

At 8am, 13 protesters in hi-vis vests walked onto the road at Shepherds Bush Green in west London and marched slowly along the road, causing traffic delays. Police arrested two people for obstruction of the highway.

Further action was in progress in Aldwych later on Monday morning.

Police officers appeared to be accompanying a group of protesers as they proceeded slowly along the Strand, as the group continues to call for the government to halt all new oil and gas licences.

The disruption follows reports over the weekend of a government-directed police “crackdown” on action by groups such as Just Stop Oil.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said on Monday: “Today’s actions are the first since November 10, which marked the end of six weeks of continuous disruption and civil resistance by supporters of Just Stop Oil during which the police made over 700 arrests.

“Since the campaign began on April 1, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested over 2,000 times, with 27 supporters currently in prison.

“We will not be intimidated by changes to the law or government posturing on tougher policing tactics. Just Stop Oil supporters understand that this is irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter and the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities.

“The government can end this disruption tomorrow if they agree to halt new oil and gas licences and consents.”

The action comes after reports Rishi Sunak is to order police chiefs to crackdown on protesters causing chaos on Britain’s roads, as part of plans to kickstart his premiership.

According to The Sunday Times, prioritising a crackdown on protests will be part of the Prime Minister’s “Operation Get Tough” plan after Just Stop Oil repeatedly brought chaos to the M25 earlier this month - and amid the threat of further protests in the run up to Christmas.

Meanwhile, the Met Police has said it is “determined to bring to justice all those activists who cause disruption or damage to London”.

On Sunday, Commander Karen Findlay, of Met Police Operations, said: “Just Stop Oil has already caused significant disruption to London’s general public and people travelling on the M25.

“We understand they are now set to cause further disruption in London in the run-up to Christmas, from November 28 to December 14. However, we are again fully prepared. We have a very experienced team with robust policing measures in place to respond quickly and effectively to any incidents of serious disruption to London. We also have specialist officers available to deal with a range of tactics including sophisticated lock-on devices.

“We will always try to work with organisers so that protests can go ahead safely. However, Just Stop Oil do not engage with police in advance to share where they may protest or how many may be involved.

“As their actions are spontaneous and could take place anywhere across the capital, we are having to use more officers to respond, regardless of whether any action takes place or not.

She revealed that since October 1 alone, 11,923 officer shifts have been required to respond to Just Stop Oil activity.

“These are officers who could be dealing with issues that matter to local communities such as knife crime, safeguarding and responding to burglaries.”