Surrey Police investigation over M25 protests ongoing
The motorway was blocked by demonstrators on two mornings this week
Last updated 17th Sep 2021
Surrey Police say enquiries are continuing after protesters blocked two junctions of the M25 on Wednesday (15 September).
Climate protestors from the group Insulate Britain stopped traffic during the rush hour - at the junction 10 for the Wisley Interchange, and junction 8 near Reigate.
It came just two days after a similar demonstration by the group on Monday (13 September).
33 people were arrested in total on Wednesday - 12 were released under investigation and 21 have been bailed.
Chief Superintendent Jerry Westerman said yesterday (16 September): “Following reports of a number of protesters on Junctions 8 and 10 of the M25 yesterday morning, we took swift and robust action to ensure that they were removed after they ignored police requests to move on in a peaceful manner.
“I would like to reassure the public that all the forces involved are working closely to ensure that any further activity is dealt with effectively and efficiently, with disruption to people and businesses kept to a minimum.
"When protests start to endanger the public and put the safety of others at risk, we have to act swiftly and effectively.
“We are working closely with our partner agencies, including our colleagues in other forces, as well as other agencies, including Highways England, and thank them for their continued support.
“I appreciate that these protests have caused considerable inconvenience and frustration for those caught up in the traffic delays and I can assure you that we are continuing to gather evidence and ensure that those who break the law are brought to justice.
"I would like to thank all those motorists who got caught up in the delays, both yesterday and on Monday, while we dealt with the incident, for their co-operation and patience.
“We are continuing to appeal to anyone who witnessed either incident or anyone with any dashcam footage to come forward as you may be able to help us progress our investigation.”
There were more arrests following similar demonstrations on the M25 in Hertfordshire and Kent - as well as earlier this week near Godstone and Heathrow.
The Home Secretary has called the protesters "selfish".
Priti Patel has spoken out against what she described as the "guerrilla tactics" used by Insulate Britain: "Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and there will always be space for legitimate groups to make their voices heard.
“But this Government will not stand by and allow a small minority of selfish protesters to cause significant disruption to the lives and livelihoods of the hard-working majority.
“The guerrilla tactics used by Insulate Britain detract from their cause and I know the public will agree that the scenes on the M25 this week were completely unacceptable.
"The police have our full support. They must uphold the law and take decisive action. This kind of disruption is dangerous and takes police away from communities where they are needed most.
"That’s exactly why we are giving police the powers to better manage such highly disruptive demonstrations in future.
"The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will introduce a new offence of public nuisance, ensuring there are appropriate sentences for the harm caused.”