Just Stop Oil: Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey calls on activists to halt ‘reckless’ M25 protest

The Commissioner is growing tired of the disruption and danger that the protests are causing. The growing momentum of the group is causing significant distress to the officers, who are having to put themselves in harm's way, in attempt to control the chaos.

The PCC was particularly upset with the news that a police motorcyclist sustained an injury in the line of duty.

She told Greatest Hits Radio Surrey & East Hampshire: "It's desperately sad, isn't it? I understand that he's not too hurt, he will be ok. But it just shows the kind of thing that can happen when this kind of action takes place."

Activists climbed gantries again earlier today at a plethora of locations around the Surrey stretch of the M25. And while the motorway reopened at 9.30 AM, Townsend confessed there's still a long way to go. However, she's immensely pleased with the job the forces have done.

The commissioner said: "Surrey police have been fantastic. When you think about it, there are 117 miles of the M25 around London, and we have a long stretch of it in Surrey, we've got eight junctions of it. The police have done a really phenomenal job in Surrey and beyond, but I have to say particularly in Surrey, where they've had to act incredibly swiftly. It doesn't stop the disruption unfortunately, but I'm incredibly proud of the force."

The PCC, who is a massive advocate for 'peaceful protest', believes that the individuals involved in the coordinated stalling of one of Europe's busiest motorways, have crossed the line.

Townsend asserted: "It's quite clearly not peaceful protest, this is straightforward criminality. and they are breaking the law. Peaceful protest is a really important cornerstone of our democracy and it's something the police do go out of their way to facilitate. If these protestors were protesting, for example, on Guildford High Street, and they wanted to make their point and march, that'd be a different thing."

She continued: "But what they're doing is potentially causing great danger, not only to themselves, but to the police as well, like the officer in Essex and also to the public. So this goes way beyond peaceful protest.

"I understand that they feel very seriously about their message, and I think that's something that we all share. But this is not how you get that message across, it's not by breaking the law and it's not by putting people's lives in danger."

In a press release, the commissioner emphasised: “I fully share the anger and frustration of those who have been caught up in this over the last three days. We have seen stories of people missing vital medical appointments and family funerals and NHS nurses unable to get into work – it is completely unacceptable.

Townsend added: “Whatever the cause these activists are trying to promote – the vast majority of the public are fed up with the disruption it is causing to the lives of thousands of people trying to go about their daily business.

“I know how hard our police teams have been working and I fully support their efforts to combat these protests. We have had teams patrolling the M25 from the early hours to try and disrupt the activities of this group, detain those responsible and ensure that the motorway can be reopened as soon as possible.

“But this is diverting our resources and putting an unnecessary strain on our officers and staff at a time when resources are already stretched.”