Essex Police have taken decisive action to remove Just Stop Oil protesters who defied a court order, escalating tensions amid widespread disruption. This crackdown comes during a period of significant turmoil caused by a tube strike, with severe traffic congestion reported around Junctions 28 and 29 on the M25 motorway.
Meanwhile, Kent Police have deployed hundreds of officers to patrol motorway gantries, aiming to prevent protesters from breaking through barriers and causing further chaos. The increased police presence highlights the seriousness of the situation as authorities seek to maintain order on one of the UK’s busiest roads.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has publicly criticised law enforcement for what she described as “humouring” the militant environmental group Just Stop Oil after their fourth consecutive day of disruption on the M25. Braverman stated, “We have seen a decline in confidence in the police to take action against radicals, roadblockers, vandals, militants, and extremists in recent months and years. Although most police officers do an excellent job, we have seen the police appear to lose faith in themselves – in your authority and your power – an institutional reluctance. Criminal damage, obstructing the highway, public nuisance – none of this should be tolerated.”
She added, “Scenes of members of the public taking the law into their own hands indicate a loss of confidence. I urge you all to rise to your public responsibilities.”
The protests have already resulted in a serious collision on the M25, injuring a police constable. Braverman accused officers of allowing the protests to escalate due to hesitation in clamping down on what she called “criminal disruption.” She warned that this reluctance is prompting citizens to take justice into their own hands, signalling a dangerous erosion of trust in policing.
The situation on the M25 remains tense as protesters continue to target motorway junctions, causing widespread traffic chaos. In response, hundreds of Kent Police officers have been deployed to block access points, while Essex Police enforce court orders to remove unlawful protesters.
The Home Secretary’s call for a tougher police response underscores the urgency to prevent further disruption. The standoff shows no signs of ending soon as authorities contend with the largest wave of Just Stop Oil protests to date.
Originally published by UKNIP.
