Judge extends order aimed at stopping protesters entering Essex oil installation
Lawyer representing Esso claims there's still an 'appetite' for 'direct action'.
A High Court judge has extended injunctions aimed at preventing environmental protesters from entering oil installations, including one in Purfleet.
The decision comes after a lawyer representing Esso said there was still an “appetite” for “direct action”.
Mrs Justice Collins Rice on Monday temporarily extended interim orders made by another judge nearly a year ago, relating to a number of terminals in southern England, after applications by Esso and ExxonMobil.
The judge, who considered arguments at a High Court hearing in London, made orders aimed at “persons unknown” and a number of named protesters.
She indicated that Esso and ExxonMobil should considerer making applications for permanent orders at a trial.
Barrister Timothy Morshead, who led the two firms’ legal team, said evidence indicated that injunctions preventing trespass had calmed protests at installations.
He said that “as far as one can tell”, protest group Just Stop Oil remained “committed” to causing disruption.
“There remains an appetite… for taking what is called direct action,” he told the judge.
“One is entitled to make that inference.”
As well as the Purfleet site in Essex, orders made by the judge also relate to a number of other sites including installations at Fawley and Hythe in Hampshire, Bristol, Birmingham, and Stanwell in Middlesex.