M25 traffic: Journalist arrests ‘wrong’ during protests, police commissioner says

The Met said there is a person on a gantry near Junction 25 at Waltham Cross close to the border with Hertfordshire. The road is closed.

There was also a report on social media of a protest between Junctions 15 and 16, near Heathrow Airport.

Just Stop Oil said its supporters climbed gantries “in multiple locations” from 6.30am on Thursday.

Phoebie Plummer, a 21-year-old student from London, said: “I understand people must be frustrated with us, and rightly so, but we have to disrupt daily life because we are hurtling towards climate catastrophe, yet the Government continues to betray me, my generation and people in the global South by issuing new oil licences.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “We’re ready to respond to any criminality on the M25 again today and will work quickly to minimise disruption and keep traffic moving.”

Kent Police said: “There are no current incidents involving activists on the road networks in Kent.

“Our officers are continuing to assist other forces in responding to any offences and disruption elsewhere.”

Just Stop Oil protesters have disrupted the M25 for a fourth day in a row.

Essex Police said a woman had been arrested while trying to climb an overhead gantry close to junction 28, near Brentwood, while Surrey Police said officers had responded to activists on the gantry at junction eight.

Essex Police said: “We have arrested a woman attempting to climb a gantry approximately 1.5 miles before J28 on the M25 clockwise track. One lane was closed for a short time as officers responded to the situation. All lanes between junctions 28 and 29 are now open.”

Surrey Police tweeted: “Officers are on scene and dealing with activists who have climbed the gantry at Junction 8 on the M25. The road has been closed anti-clockwise.”

We’ve now finished our live coverage of the M25 protests for the day, but keep checking independent.co.uk for all the latest updates.

Rishi Sunak has joined police chiefs in calling for press freedom after it emerged journalists have been arrested and held in custody during Just Stop Oil protests.

Charlotte Lynch, of LBC, told of her "terrifying" five hours in a police cell, a day after documentary maker Rich Felgate and photographer Tom Bowles were arrested for reporting on the activists on the M25 in Hertfordshire.

Mr Sunak said it is "vital" that journalists are able to do their job freely, "without restriction", as the chief constable of Hertfordshire Police called for a review into the arrests.

Mr Sunak said it is "vital" that journalists are able to do their job freely, "without restriction", as the chief constable of Hertfordshire Police called for a review into the arrests.

Essex Police chief constable BJ Harrington said it is “only a matter of time” before someone is killed during a Just Stop Oil protest.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "We have been telling Just Stop Oil all the time that motorways are dangerous places and people will and do get killed."

Asked about the incident in which an officer was injured on the M25 on Wednesday morning, he said: “It's devastating. Our officers have been out there doing the best they can to protect the public and keep the roads moving.

“As a result of their bravery and commitment, one of them gets hurt.”

He went on: “I think it is only a matter of time before somebody gets killed.

“The only way this is going to stop is if Just Stop Oil frankly grow up and realise they are putting people's lives at risk.”

Rishi Sunak has said his government is “moving ahead” with legislation to give the police the powers they need to stop protests such as Just Stop Oil.

His comments came after Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge Ben Spencer said in the Commons: “Today Just Stop Oil protesters have been on the M25, causing disruption and misery to my constituents, including causing problems of access to my local hospital.

“Does my right honourable friend agree with me rather than illegal stunts that endanger lives, these protesters should look at our records of delivery on net-zero, from renewables to the Glasgow climate pact, and work constructively with us to deliver on our environmental ambitions?”

The prime minister replied: “I completely agree with my honourable friend and I sympathise with his hard-working constituents who are having to deal with this kind of disruption.

“That's why we are moving ahead with legislation to give the police the powers they need to stop this type of extremist protesting, disrupting the lives of working people, and I very much hope the party opposite actually join us in supporting those changes.”

A radio journalist has spoken of the “terrifying” five hours she endured in a police cell after being arrested while reporting on a Just Stop Oil protest.

Charlotte Lynch, of LBC, had been reporting on the activists from a road bridge over junction 21 of the M25, in Hertfordshire, on Tuesday, for around 45 minutes when she was approached and questioned by two officers.

After showing them a press card and having explained she was reporting on the demonstration, the officers handcuffed her, took her phone and arrested her on conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.

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Two Just Stop Oil protesters have been charged over disruption on the M25, Essex Police has said.

Charlotte Kirin, 53, of Peckham Street, Bury St Edmunds, and 55-year-old Paul Bleach, of Locarno Road, Portsmouth, were charged with intentionally recklessly causing a public nuisance.

On Tuesday, they were arrested at junctions 31 and 27 of the M25 respectively. Both are expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Three people have pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance following serious disruption to motorists on the M25, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

They are among 22 people charged as part of a joint operation involving the Metropolitan Police, Essex Police, Surrey Police, Kent Police and Hertfordshire Police.