Just Stop Oil protesters block south London road with slow march

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Just Stop Oil protesters have staged another slow march – blocking a south London road.

Demonstrators obstructed the road at the Bricklayers Arms roundabout, with traffic delayed along the Old Kent Road on Tuesday.

Police officers walked alongside the protesters, who held orange banners and wore orange hi-vis vests as they shuffled along shortly after 8am.

The action follows a protest on Saturday which saw activists tucking themselves into a bed on display in luxury shop Harrods in a demonstration against fuel poverty.

Just Stop Oil protests have caused significant disruption in recent months, frustrating members of the public and prompting tough talk from politicians, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman dubbing them the demonstrators extremists.

Earlier this month, police chiefs attended a summit at Downing Street to discuss how to deal with them.

The Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Matt Twist, said policing the protests has so far cost the force around £5.5 million.

Since October, more than 700 people have been arrested and nearly 200 charged over protest action.

JSO appears to have changed tactics recently, with supporters walking slowly in the road rather than stopping traffic entirely.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said of Tuesday’s action: “There was some disruption to traffic in the area around Old Kent Road this morning due to protesters walking slowly in the road.

“The disruption was intermittent, with the group alternating between walking eastbound and westbound and coming off the road entirely.

“We are alert to these new JSO tactics. Officers will intervene where serious disruption is being caused.”