Yahoo News Police issue appeal for drivers 'adversely affected' by M25 Just Stop Oil protests
Six police forces are appealing for anyone significantly affected by Just Stop Oil protests on the M25 to contact them.
Essex Police together with the Met and forces from Hertfordshire, Kent, Thames Valley and Surrey are investigating the disruptions after Just Stop Oil protests on the major motorway from November 7 to 10, and want to hear from anyone adversely affected by their actions.
For example, anyone who experienced significant financial loss, could not attend medical appointments, could not attend planned work, or who missed anything significant through the disruption, can provide a statement which will assist the investigations.
Officers from all six forces regularly responded to incidents of people scaling and attaching themselves to overhead gantries.
Police officers then had to climb the gantries after them, unlock them, and lower them down, which resulted in the closures of the carriageway, often preventing members of the public getting to their destinations on time.
The Met's Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Norris, who is leading the investigations, said: “Actions by Just Stop Oil on the M25 caused a significant amount of disruption to road users.
“We are determined to bring to justice all those who conspire to cause significant and unreasonable disruption to London and the motorway network.
"Our investigations are progressing at pace, but we would also like to hear from anyone who believes they were adversely affected by the disruptions to come forward with information to help our investigations.
“I know a substantial number of people will have been simply delayed by the disruption, but specifically I would like to hear from anyone who was prevented from getting to necessary or vital appointments or meetings, attend planned work and therefore missed out on payment, missed, or were severely delayed, attending any significant life events with a view to obtaining a statement from them.”
Anyone who was seriously inconvenienced between November 7 to 10 2022, can supply information via the Met Police website.
So far, 61 people involved in the M25 disruptions have been charged: 43 with causing a public nuisance and 18 for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Three people have been convicted of causing a public nuisance, resulting in the following sentences: six months' imprisonment; six months suspended sentence, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs; six months suspended sentence, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.
The remaining 58 people are pending trial.
