Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Thomas Kingsley,Zoe Tidman
Thursday 10 November 2022 15:04 GMT
Comments
Just Stop Oil activist dangles legs over M25 gantry on second day of protests

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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.

Roads around Junction 25 and 27 reopen

Roads have now opened up between Junctions 25 and 27:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 12:18

Visually-impaired M25 activist ‘terrified’

A Just Stop Oil protester says she is visually impaired and “scared of heights” - and is “terrified” protesting from an overhead gantry today.

“I’m doing this because I’m more terrified if we don’t stop new oil and gas, we are on the brink of climate catastrophe,” she says.

Watch here:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 12:14

Thoughts from people stuck in M25 traffic

Here’s some tweets from people caught up in the M25 disruption today. Some different views...

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 11:53

Just Stop Oil footage from M25 gantry

Just Stop Oil has shared a video from up on one of the M25 gantries:

The group also added:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 11:31

Arrests from different forces

Here are the police forces on the arrests taking place in their areas.

Essex Police say a woman has been arrested:

Surrey Police made arrests over protests at four different gantries...

Kent Police arrested two:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 11:15

Sixteen arrested over M25 protest

Sixteen protesters have been arrested on the M25 today, according to the Metropolitan Police:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 11:03

Closures between Junction 8 and Junction 11

The M25 is closed in both directions between Junction 8 and Junction 11:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 11:00

What happened on the M25 yesterday?

Just Stop Oil have targeted the M25 for two days in a row.

On Monday, its activists also climbed on gantries to cause disruption during rush hour - including between Junctions 6 and 7 in Surrey and the key Junction 25 in Waltham Cross.

Read up on what happened yesterday:

Just Stop Oil shuts parts of M25 as protesters climb gantries over motorway

‘I’m here because I don’t have a future,’ tearful activist says

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 10:45

Fifteen involved in M25 protest

Just Stop Oil says 15 protesters were involved in the action blocking the M25 today:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 10:14

‘I will do what I can to demand a response'

Here is what one of the Just Stop Oil protesters on a M25 gantry said this morning:

Zoe Tidman8 November 2022 10:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in