Climate Activists Cause Disruption on UK’s Busiest Motorway as COP27 Gets Under Way

Police officers detain a Just Stop Oil protester who had climbed a gantry on the M25 in Surrey, England, on Nov. 7, 2022. (PA Media/Surrey Police)

Climate protesters have caused disruption on the UK’s busiest motorway despite a major police operation to foil their plans, just as the COP27 climate summit gets under way in Egypt.

Climate group Just Stop Oil, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, said “action has gone ahead in multiple locations on the M25” during morning rush hour on Monday.

Sections of M25, a busy motorway which encircles Greater London, was closed as a result of the protests.

Police said a number of arrests had been made after protesters attempted to climb up overhead gantries at various junctions in Essex and Hertfordshire.

Just Stop Oil has vowed to continue its action until the group’s demand is met.

The group said on its website: “This is not a one-day event, expect us every day and anywhere. This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project.

“Our supporters will be returning—today, tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day after that—and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.”

Police Action

The disruption took place despite attempts by the police to forestall the protests by arresting suspected planners.

The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested seven people on Sunday evening and Monday morning as it launched an operation to identify and arrest climate protesters suspected of planning “reckless and serious” motorway disruption.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said, “Our investigation has strong reason to suspect the Just Stop Oil group intend to disrupt major motorway road networks which would risk serious harm to the public, with reckless action to obstruct the public on a large scale.”

He added:“There remains a possibility outstanding suspects are still intent on causing unlawful disruption to the public. The Met has mobilised specialist teams and drawn police officers from across the capital to respond.”

Continuing Disruption

According to the Met, which is conducting the operation in conjunction with the National Police Coordination Centre, more than 10,000 officer shifts have been dedicated to policing Just Stop Oil protests since the start of October.

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

“We are determined to bring to justice all of those who conspire to cause significant and unreasonable disruption to London, or cause damage to buildings, property, or valuables. It’s what the public expects, and we’ll work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and courts to make sure this happens.”

PA Media contributed to this report.