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Just Stop Oil protests: Police officer hurt amid M25 disruption Just Stop Oil protests: Police officer hurt amid M25 disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Two lorries crashed at a rolling roadblock, Essex Police saidTwo lorries crashed at a rolling roadblock, Essex Police said
A police officer has been injured on the M25 amid climate protests which closed parts of the motorway in Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire.A police officer has been injured on the M25 amid climate protests which closed parts of the motorway in Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire.
The police motorcyclist was hurt in a collision which also involved two lorries at a rolling roadblock.The police motorcyclist was hurt in a collision which also involved two lorries at a rolling roadblock.
Two people have been arrested for causing a public nuisance.
The Just Stop Oil group, which is protesting for a third day, said about 10 activists had climbed on overhead gantries "in multiple locations".The Just Stop Oil group, which is protesting for a third day, said about 10 activists had climbed on overhead gantries "in multiple locations".
Essex Police provided no information on the condition of the officer, who was injured between junctions 26 (Waltham Abbey) and 27 (Theydon). The home secretary told police to be firmer against protesters.
Suella Braverman said the "disruption is a threat to our way of life", during a speech on Wednesday.
She told the Police Chiefs Conference: "I urge you all to step up to your public duties in policing protests.
"In recent months and years, we have seen an erosion of confidence in the police to take action against the radicals, the road-blockers, the vandals, the militants and the extremists.
"It is not a human right to vandalise a work of art. It is not a civil liberty to stop ambulances getting to the sick and injured."
A police officer has been injured on the M25 in Essex amid climate protests.A police officer has been injured on the M25 in Essex amid climate protests.
A police officer has been injured on the M25 in Essex amid climate protests.A police officer has been injured on the M25 in Essex amid climate protests.
Officers had been called after a person was spotted on the carriageway, and a rolling roadblock was put in place. Essex Police provided no information on the condition of the officer, who was injured between junctions 26 (Waltham Abbey) and 27 (Theydon).
Two people were then arrested as they tried to access gantries over the M25, an Essex Police spokesman said. Surrey Police said five arrests have been made - four on suspicion of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and one on suspicion of conspiracy of the same offence.
Essex Police says all sections of the M25 in the county have re-opened. They are all still in custody, police said.
The force said: "This brings the total number of arrests made in Surrey so far to 16.
"Officers are proactively patrolling the rest of the M25, as they have been all week."
Kent Police said protests in Essex were causing disruption at the Dartford crossing for traffic leaving Kent.
A 71-year-old man from Cornwall and a 75-year-old woman from Somerset were arrested by Kent Police.
The disruption comes as the COP27 climate summit is held in Egypt.The disruption comes as the COP27 climate summit is held in Egypt.
M25 disruption:M25 disruption:
Surrey: Between J7 (M23) and J8 (Reigate), and between J9 (Leatherhead and J8 (Reigate), and between J13 (Staines) and J14 (Heathrow Airport)Surrey: Between J7 (M23) and J8 (Reigate), and between J9 (Leatherhead and J8 (Reigate), and between J13 (Staines) and J14 (Heathrow Airport)
Kent: Between J4 (Orpington and J5 (A21/Sevenoaks)Kent: Between J4 (Orpington and J5 (A21/Sevenoaks)
London/Essex: Between J29 (Romford) and J30 (Thurrock/Lakeside)London/Essex: Between J29 (Romford) and J30 (Thurrock/Lakeside)
Hertfordshire: Between J23 (A1(M)) and J22 (St Albans)Hertfordshire: Between J23 (A1(M)) and J22 (St Albans)
Surrey Police arresting a protester between junctions eight and nineSurrey Police arresting a protester between junctions eight and nine
Surrey Police said one protester had been removed from a gantry near junction eight and arrested for public nuisance.
The force said: "Officers are proactively patrolling the rest of the M25, as they have been all week."
Kent Police said protests in Essex were causing disruption at the Dartford crossing for traffic leaving Kent.
Is it legal for Just Stop Oil to block roads?Is it legal for Just Stop Oil to block roads?
Reporter speaks about her arrest at M25 protestReporter speaks about her arrest at M25 protest
Just Stop Oil said in a statement: "This is not a one-day event, expect us every day and anywhere."Just Stop Oil said in a statement: "This is not a one-day event, expect us every day and anywhere."
It also said the collision of two lorries and the injury to the police officer was "an awful situation".It also said the collision of two lorries and the injury to the police officer was "an awful situation".
The group is calling for an end to fossil fuels, renewable energy investment and for better building insulation to avoid energy waste.The group is calling for an end to fossil fuels, renewable energy investment and for better building insulation to avoid energy waste.
Rachel, 75, posted a video from a gantry over the M25Rachel, 75, posted a video from a gantry over the M25
One protester, 75-year-old Rachel, posted an online clip from a gantry between junctions eight and nine.One protester, 75-year-old Rachel, posted an online clip from a gantry between junctions eight and nine.
She said: "I'm here because of my five lovely grandchildren. I want to do everything I can to save their future and they are at great risk."She said: "I'm here because of my five lovely grandchildren. I want to do everything I can to save their future and they are at great risk."
Jade McCormick was travelling to Stansted airport to catch a flight to Scotland to visit relatives she hasn't seen since before the pandemic.Jade McCormick was travelling to Stansted airport to catch a flight to Scotland to visit relatives she hasn't seen since before the pandemic.
She said: "Traffic was just stopped, at a standstill, and we've had to turn around and I've missed my flight. I'm going to go home and maybe I'll have to drive to Scotland."She said: "Traffic was just stopped, at a standstill, and we've had to turn around and I've missed my flight. I'm going to go home and maybe I'll have to drive to Scotland."
Jade McCormick missed her flight to Scotland after getting struck in trafficJade McCormick missed her flight to Scotland after getting struck in traffic
Referring to the activists, she said: "I see their point, but in the same breath, when it's causing accidents it's just getting stupid now.Referring to the activists, she said: "I see their point, but in the same breath, when it's causing accidents it's just getting stupid now.
"Police officers have much more serious crimes to deal with but they're now having to monitor the M25 - it's just stupid. I don't agree with it.""Police officers have much more serious crimes to deal with but they're now having to monitor the M25 - it's just stupid. I don't agree with it."
Essex Police arrested a protester close to junction 30Essex Police arrested a protester close to junction 30
At the COP27 summit, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told world leaders the war in Ukraine was a reason to act faster to tackle climate change.At the COP27 summit, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told world leaders the war in Ukraine was a reason to act faster to tackle climate change.
The Metropolitan Police said 16 protesters had previously been arrested on the motorway in a joint operation with other counties' police forces.The Metropolitan Police said 16 protesters had previously been arrested on the motorway in a joint operation with other counties' police forces.
On Sunday, the High Court granted an injunction preventing M25 protests, meaning anyone involved in any such protest could be found in contempt of court.On Sunday, the High Court granted an injunction preventing M25 protests, meaning anyone involved in any such protest could be found in contempt of court.
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