Just Stop Oil protests - live: Climate activists block A4 after Dartford Crossing reopens
Activists block traffic in London to raise alarm about climate crisis
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Just Stop Oil protesters have blocked a busy road in London in the latest round of demonstrations aimed at raising the alarm about the climate emergency.
Dozens of activists stopped traffic on the A4 Cromwell Road near the Natural History Museum in Kensington as they demanded the government halt all new fossil fuel licences.
It come after a major bridge on the Dartford Crossing reopened to traffic after two Just Stop Oil protesters hung off it for 37 hours, causing severe delays.
The Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25 was closed off to drivers after two activists scaled the 190-ft structure on Monday morning and even spent the night up there.
National Highways confirmed the bridge reopened to drivers just before 10pm that night after being checked for damages.
Essex Police says ‘unacceptable’ for people to ‘selfishly stop others going about lives'
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow from Essex Police says the force is “doing everything possible to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible”.
“To be clear, we are not in any way anti-protest. The right to protest is enshrined in law and we will always seek to facilitate safe protest where we can,” he said.
“However, it is unacceptable for people to think they can put lives in danger and selfishly stop others going about their lives and the public rightly expect us to take action against anyone who believes they can do this – and we will.”
Two activists agree to leave bridge
Just Stop Oil has just tweeted to say the two activists who have been hanging off the QE2 bridge have “agreed to cooperate with police and leave the bridge”.
It added: “#JustStopOil will continue in #CivilResistance to harmful politics and our criminal government. To protect our rights, freedoms and the rule of law.”
Activists Morgan and Marcus have spent 36 hours hanging over the bridge, including spending the night there.
Cars faced gridlock and long delays aound the Dartford Crossing as the two protesters refused to leave the 190-ft structure.
Giant cherry picker arrives
Just Stop Oil has just tweeted that the “super cherry picker” has arrived at the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
The climate action group has been sharing updates on its Twitter page as activists have shut down the major bridge on the M25, causing severe delays.
The activists have spent 36 hours dangling 449ft in the air off the bridge, but have agreed to come down after police have brought in the giant crane.
Essex Police on latest developments at QE2 bridge
Here is the latest from Essex Police:
“A special raised platform is being brought in as we consider all options to resolve the situation at the Dartford Crossing and bring it to a safe conclusion.
“We are continuing to work with our partners to remove two people who remain at height on the QEII bridge.
“When that safe conclusion is reached, the two people will be arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.
“A raised platform is arriving imminently on the QEII bridge. That platform will allow specialists to work at height and continue meaningful engagement with the two people.”
Platform for specialists to ‘continue engagement’ with 2 climbers
A raised platform has been brought in by police officers after the Dartford Crossing remained blocked by two Just Stop Oil protesters for the second day in a row.
Essex Police said the platform would allow specialists to work at height on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex, and “continue meaningful engagement” with the two climbers.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said in a tweet from the force: “The 2 ppl who remain at height on the bridge have put themselves in danger…
“As a result, we and our emergency services face a considerable challenge. Our priority is to keep our county moving but we also have a duty of care to the 2 people, as well as those who may be involved in any resolution at height.”
He added: “I know this situation is incredibly frustrating, but we are doing everything possible to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible.”
Video from QE2 bridge protester
Here is more from one of the activists on the bridge:
‘Raised platform’ being brought to bridge
Essex Police say they are bringing in a raised platform to help resolve the protest at the QE2 bridge.
The force said it would arrest the two activists once removed:
Activist sings on QE2 bridge
Just Stop Oil have shared a tweet of one of the activists on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge singing:
Who are Just Stop Oil?
Just Stop Oil are once again hitting the headlines over a string of protests - including climbing to the top of a bridge over the River Thames, throwing soup over a Van Gogh masterpiece and blocking a major route into London.
But who are Just Stop Oil and what do they want?
Furvah Shah and I have taken a look:
Who are Just Stop Oil?
Protest group inspired by Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain are calling for government to halt any new fossil fuel projects
No 10 says new powers will tackle Just Stop Oil ‘guerrilla tactics’
Downing Street said new offences and tougher police powers would help tackle the “guerrilla tactics” employed by Just Stop Oil.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman would not be drawn on the police response to the Dartford Crossing protests.
“I wouldn’t get into comment on individual operational policing decisions,” he said, but added: “I think we have seen in the past, too often, these protesters able to disrupt lives, cause mass misery and stop emergency services going about their work.”
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and the Public Order Bill going through the Commons today would beef up the powers available to officers.
“We are we are ensuring the police have even more powers so they can stop these sorts of guerrilla tactics,” the spokesperson said.
PA
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