Surrey Police warn protestors of "serious injury or death" demonstrating on M25
Insulate Britain activists have blocked the road fives times over nine days
Last updated 22nd Sep 2021
Surrey Police have warned protestors who took to the M25 five times in 9 days that the risk of injury or death trying to demonstrate on the motorway is "very high"
38 people were arrested after Insulate Britain protestors blocked the road near Wisley yesterday morning during the rush hour.
At a press briefing Surrey Police Chief Inspector Mike Hodder condemned what he called their "irrational decisions" to charge into moving traffic.
He said it could also lead to drivers having accidents.
The force said the type of protest carried out is unreasonable and unsafe - and will be dealt with robustly.
Footage taken at the scene by LBC showed the protesters walking on to the motorway and sitting down on the ground in front of moving traffic.
Some then held up banners reading "Insulate Britain" and poured blue paint on to the road, before they were dragged away by officers.
Chief Inspector Hodder said: ""Protesters standing on the hard shoulder and making an effort to get in to live traffic, anyone with a simple mind can understand that the result from that sort of action will be serious injury or death, and it could cause other motorists to react and have further accidents due to the consequences of those protesters making irrational decisions.
"We're very worried about serious injury and death."
Chief Superintendent Jerry Westerman added: "My plea to those (protesters) is that whatever you feel are your legitimate aims in relation to the protest, the harm that you are causing through your actions is significant, not just disruption and inconvenience, but very real risk of harm to people...
"The type of protest being carried out now is unreasonable, it's unsafe and if it happens it will be dealt with robustly and it will be prosecuted with the full weight of the law."
He admitted that police powers to charge and remand protesters for blocking traffic were "pretty limited": "The primary offence here is obstruction of the highway, which is not in itself an imprisonable offence, so our opportunity to charge and remand people in custody is pretty limited for that specific offence."
Drivers with video and dashcam footage of the protest are being asked to share it with the force urgently.
In an update today, National Highways has been granted an injunction against Insulate Britain.
This new move will see activists facing possible time in jail.
Police could also get more powers to deal with the protesters.
Ministers say it would mean officers might be able to intervene pre-emptively to stop demonstrations getting underway.
Meanwhile Insulate Britain has confirmed it led the demonstration over improving home insulation.
It added that the recent rise in gas and electricity costs has "increased the urgency" for change and it would end its campaign as soon as it hears a "meaningful commitment" to its demands.
Spokesman Liam Norton said: "The idea that people would suddenly decide insulating our leaky homes is a bad idea as a result of our campaign is frankly laughable. We are simply asking the Government to get on with the job.
"The people of Britain understand that climate change is a severe threat to everything they hold dear. They are looking to the Government for leadership. We have a practical solution and have received encouragement for our aims from many construction industry professionals."