M25 traffic: Journalist arrests ‘wrong’ during protests, police commissioner says
A photographer, film-maker and LBC reporter covering Just Stop Oil protests were taken into custody this week
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A police commissioner has admitted officers “got it wrong” by arresting members of the press covering Just Stop Oil protesters on the M25.
A photographer, film-maker and LBC reporter were all taken into custody by Hertfordshire Police this week.
David Lloyd, the police and crime commissioner for the force, told LBC: “I am certain that there was no reason to arrest them such as you have given. As I said at the outset I think we got it wrong.”
Meanwhile Just Stop Oil returned to overhead gantries along the M25 on Thursday for the fourth day in a row.
The climate group once again shut down roads and caused delays along the motorway to call for an end to all new oil and gas. Traffic was brought to a standstill near Heathrow in the morning.
The Metropolitan, Surrey and Essex Police all arrested individuals over the action on Thursday.
Parts of M25 starting to reopen
Essex Police has confirmed the last protester has been brought down and arrested
The force said in a statement: Thank you to everyone for your patience. We are working at speed with National Highways to open roads as quickly as possible, but we do understand how frustrating this has been. Thanks to those who arrested these individuals.”
Police secure another protester and open part of motorway at reduced speed limit
Police have secured another protestor on top of a gantry at J29-30 and have reopened the section in the anticlockwise direction.
Essex Police said: “We have secured this person and are working to bring him down. Junction 30 to 29 (anti-clockwise) has been reopened, with a speed limit of 40mph.”
Journalist tells of ‘terrifying’ five hours in a cell after Just Stop Oil arrest
A radio journalist has spoken of the “terrifying” five hours she endured in a police cell after being arrested while reporting on a Just Stop Oil protest.
Charlotte Lynch, of LBC, had been reporting on the activists from a road bridge over junction 21 of the M25, in Hertfordshire, on Tuesday, for around 45 minutes when she was approached and questioned by two officers.
After showing them a press card and having explained she was reporting on the demonstration, the officers handcuffed her, took her phone and arrested her on conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.
It comes after a photographer and filmmaker said they were held in police custody for around 13 hours for covering a protest staged by the group.
Ms Lynch said she was searched on the side of the road, before officers seized her devices and took her to a police station in a custody van.
She said: “Got to Stevenage police station, that journey took over an hour because of the M25 being closed.
“I was in the back of a police van, handcuffed, my hands were in front of me, handcuffed the entire time, on my own, the two police officers were behind the glass cage.”
Officers arrest a protester at J30 after climbing gantry
Essex Police have mounted a gantry at J30 of the M25 and arrested a protester.
It comes as an Essex police officer was hurt this morning during the disruption after being struck by a lorry.
The protestors for the JSO climate change group are demanding the government stops all new oil and gas licences.
Isabel Rock, 41, an artist from South London, is one of the protestors up the metres high structures: “I’m doing this for my baby nephew and his unborn sister.
“I want them to have a chance at a future. I want this for all the children everywhere. I’ve had a life full of love and privilege, I want to give something back.
“The government is responsible for criminal inaction on the climate crisis. They should be in prison, not me.
“It is my moral duty to cause disruption to force the government to act.”
NEW: Just Stop Oil says police officer injured in lorry crash is ‘awful situation’
Just Stop Oil has said a lorry crash which injured a police officer was an “awful situation” as the group staged its third day of protests along the M25.
The incident has led to road closures between J26 and J27 clockwise, causing delays during the early rush hour on Wednesday.
Officers are also at J30 of the M25, where one Just Stop Oil protester climbed a gantry, with one person stopped.
“The collision of two lorries and the injury of a police officer on the M25 this morning is an awful situation. The level of disruption being witnessed on the M25 should not be happening - people are rightly angry and frustrated,” Just Stop Oil said in a statement.
The statement added: “The impact on peoples lives is huge. In normal circumstances this would be unacceptable. It should never have come to this.
“The failure of our politics has left us with no other option as we seek to protect our rights and freedoms from a collapse in law and order due to a heating world.”
Read the full story below:
Just Stop Oil says police officer injured in M25 lorry crash is ‘awful situation’
Essex Police chief superintendent praised his officers responding to the incident
Watch: LBC reporter recounts being arrested while covering Just Stop Oil demonstration
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow, of Essex Police, praised the officers on the scene: “One of our officers has been injured as they worked to help resolve this situation.
“Our roads policing officers are dedicated, specialist officers who come to work to serve the public and keep you safe on our roads. They do this tirelessly, day-in day-out.
“Sadly, this morning one of these fantastic officers has been injured while carrying out this work. My thoughts are with them and their family.
“I want to thank the public for their support, patience and understanding while we work to resolve this situation.”
One person has been arrested for causing a public nuisance.
Essex Police were unable to stop an estimated 10 protestors climbing the overhead structures, despite patrolling the area.
The protestors for the JSO climate change group are demanding the government stops all new oil and gas licences.
Protester locks himself to gantry
The Metropolitan Police has said it is on the scene at J24-25 of the M25 following reports a protester has locked themselves to the gantry.
It comes as Essex Police said it is still assessing the condition of an officer hurt during a lorry crash on the motorway this morning.
10 Just Stop Oil climb gantries, group says
Just Stop Oil said around 10 of its supporters climbed on to overhead gantries in "multiple locations" on the M25 from 6.30am on Wednesday, in what is the third consecutive day of protests on the UK's busiest motorway.
They have been joined by activists from Animal Rebellion, a group campaigning for "a plant-based food system".
According to Just Stop Oil, its supporters have been arrested more than 2,000 times since its campaign began on 1 April, and 15 are currently in prison.
National Highways has confirmed that J29 and J30 have now been closed because of the disruption.
Essex Police also confirmed a specialist officer has removed a protester from the gantry.
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