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Just Stop Oil: What is it and what does it want? Just Stop Oil: What is it and what does it want?
(21 days later)
Just Stop Oil has repeatedly hit the headlines in recent months after a series of high-profile protests, including disrupting play at Wimbledon. Just Stop Oil has carried out a series of high-profile protests, including disrupting play at Wimbledon and Lords.
The group is campaigning for more action on climate change, but its tactics - which have also included blocking major roads - have faced criticism.The group is campaigning for more action on climate change, but its tactics - which have also included blocking major roads - have faced criticism.
What is Just Stop Oil?What is Just Stop Oil?
Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group founded after Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, with organisers from both at the helm.Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group founded after Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, with organisers from both at the helm.
The movement first came to attention following a series of protests in March 2022. This included pitch invasions at several Premier League football grounds. It first came to attention following a series of protests in March 2022. This included pitch invasions at several Premier League football grounds.
There have been other notable protests since then, including disruption at oil terminals and on some of the country's busiest motorways. It has also targeted major sporting events.
What does Just Stop Oil want?What does Just Stop Oil want?
The group wants the government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK. Unlike Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns on the single big issue of climate change, Just Stop Oil has a more specific focus.
It describes itself as "a coalition of groups working together to ensure the government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production". It describes itself as "a coalition of groups working together" to demand that the government "immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK."
The government plans to license more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025. In October 2022, the government announced plans to licence up to 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025.
Unlike Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns on the single big issue of climate change, Just Stop Oil's protests have a more specific focus. The group also wants greater investment in renewable energy, and better building insulation.
As well as calling for an end to fossil fuels, the group wants greater investment in renewable energy, and better building insulation.
A really simple guide to climate changeA really simple guide to climate change
Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?
Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?
What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?
Just Stop Oil activists have staged a series of high-profile protests in recent months. Many of these closed roads, including the M25 motorway. Just Stop Oil activists have staged a series of high-profile protests in recent months. Many of these closed roads, including the M25 motorway.
They have also:They have also:
interrupted play at Wimbledon by throwing orange-coloured confetti and jigsaw pieces on to Court 18 at the All England Club in London interrupted a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, in London
disrupted the first morning of the second Ashes Test, at Lord's cricket ground, in London stopped play at Wimbledon by throwing orange-coloured confetti and jigsaw pieces on to Court 18 at the All England Club in London
thrown soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, at the National Gallery in London disrupted the second Ashes Test, at Lord's cricket ground in London
glued themselves to other paintings
interrupted play at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffieldinterrupted play at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield
attempted to disrupt the British Grand Prix attempted to disrupt the British Grand Prix in Northamptonshire
targeted the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in Londontargeted the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London
thrown soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, at the National Gallery in London
The snooker match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry, at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was abandoned after the interruptionThe snooker match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry, at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was abandoned after the interruption
Like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil activists claim to be willing to use "non-violent civil resistance" to make their point in public spaces. Like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil activists say they are willing to use "non-violent civil resistance" to make their point in public spaces.
The group says it is committed to ending its protests as soon as the government comes up with a solution to end fossil-fuel production.The group says it is committed to ending its protests as soon as the government comes up with a solution to end fossil-fuel production.
Is it legal for Just Stop oil to block roads?Is it legal for Just Stop oil to block roads?
No. The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also be fined. No. The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway in England and Wales is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also be fined.
Several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, have sought High Court injunctions to prevent protesters disrupting major roads.Several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, have sought High Court injunctions to prevent protesters disrupting major roads.
Those in breach of an injunction can be held in contempt of court and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine and seizure of assets.Those in breach of an injunction can be held in contempt of court and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine and seizure of assets.
Several videos on social media have shown the anger of some motorists stopped from driving by Just Stop Oil activists.Several videos on social media have shown the anger of some motorists stopped from driving by Just Stop Oil activists.
The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic ConquestThe man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest
The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic ConquestThe man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest
Business Secretary Grant Shapps called the M25 protests "completely outrageous". "Don't go disrupting other people's lives," he told LBC.Business Secretary Grant Shapps called the M25 protests "completely outrageous". "Don't go disrupting other people's lives," he told LBC.
The Metropolitan Police has also highlighted the number of officer shifts spent policing Just Stop Oil protests. In July, the Metropolitan Police said attending the group's 515 protests in London since April had cost it £7.7m, the equivalent of 23,500 officer shifts.
"These are officers who would otherwise be dealing with issues that matter to local communities, such as knife crime, safeguarding and responding to burglaries," Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said. During the period, the Met issued 420 Section 12 orders to clear roads and more than 270 people were arrested.
But the group's activists point to a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 which found there should be a "certain degree of tolerance to disruption to ordinary life, including the disruption of traffic", as a result of non-violent protest. The Met also spent £7.5m policing the group's activities between October and December 2022.
What else is the government doing about the group's protests? "This isn't protest, this is crime - and there is a difference," Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said.
Home secretary Suella Braverman condemned the Wimbledon protests as "unacceptable". But Just Stop Oil activists point to a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 which found there should be a "certain degree of tolerance to disruption to ordinary life, including the disruption of traffic", as a result of non-violent protest.
A spokesman told BBC News the group "will continue to resist until the government agrees to end new oil and gas".
What else is the government doing to tackle protests?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman condemned the Wimbledon protests as "unacceptable".
Writing on Twitter, she said she had chaired talks at Downing Street with representatives of various sports organisations "to help tackle serious disruption of this kind".Writing on Twitter, she said she had chaired talks at Downing Street with representatives of various sports organisations "to help tackle serious disruption of this kind".
Dealing with these protests is proving very difficult for the authorities, despite several arrests and court action. Dealing with these protests has proved difficult for the authorities, despite arrests and court action.
As a result, the government is trying to push through new anti-protest legislation. In May and June 2023, Parliament passed new anti-protest legislation under the Public Order Act.
The Public Order Bill would grant new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - whether on the roads, railways, or air transport infrastructure. The laws grant new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - including roads, railways, and air transport.
Under existing legislation, the police can generally restrict a protest only if they can show it may result in "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community". Under previous legislation, the police could generally restrict a protest only if they could show it may result in "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community".
No 10 wants the police to be able to shut down a protest before it causes disruption. But the new legislation lowers the threshold for "serious disruption", allowing police to respond to action causing more than a minor delay or preventing day-to-day activities such as completing a journey.
But the House of Lords removed this proposal from the bill. And ministers cannot reinstate it when the bill returns to the House of Commons. The Public Order Act also made locking-on - whereby protesters attach themselves to buildings, objects or other people - a criminal offence.
The government unsuccessfully tried to introduce some of these laws under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act in 2022.
How will the Police and Crime Bill change protests?How will the Police and Crime Bill change protests?
Just Stop Oil protesters in London in OctoberJust Stop Oil protesters in London in October
Why do motorways close when protesters climb gantries?
The M25 was disrupted after protesters climbed gantries at multiple locations in November.
Part of the road was shut for the "safety of everyone involved", Surrey Police said.
Former Metropolitan Police traffic sergeant Mike Rawson agrees that such closures are necessary:
"It's a health and safety issue. The police cannot risk a demonstrator falling from the gantry and on to a vehicle beneath".
Who funds Just Stop Oil?Who funds Just Stop Oil?
According to its website, most of the funding for Just Stop Oil comes from the Climate Emergency Fund - a US network set up in 2019 to fund climate activism.According to its website, most of the funding for Just Stop Oil comes from the Climate Emergency Fund - a US network set up in 2019 to fund climate activism.
The Climate Emergency Fund is itself part-funded by Aileen Getty, a US philanthropist whose grandfather was petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty.The Climate Emergency Fund is itself part-funded by Aileen Getty, a US philanthropist whose grandfather was petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Extinction RebellionExtinction Rebellion
UK climate change protestsUK climate change protests
Climate changeClimate change
Insulate BritainInsulate Britain
Just Stop OilJust Stop Oil