At least 21 Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested on Monday as the group carried out a huge wave of slow-walking demonstrations across central London involving around 200 eco-activists.
Just Stop Oil members slow walked through London during morning rush hour to pressure what they call “the murderous government” to scrap all new licences for oil and gas exploration.
Footage posted on Twitter shows the group disrupting traffic on Marylebone Road and Cromwell Road in a coordinated attack.
🦺 Just Stop Oil supporters facing aggression on Marylebone Road and Cromwell Road as they march for a liveable future for all.
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 17, 2023
🖋️ Sign up to slow march against new fossil fuel licences at https://t.co/7BzUVS02dZ pic.twitter.com/Abmna9098I
In one clip, a frustrated member of the public tries to physically remove the protesters from the road in a bid to carry out his daily business.
In response to Just Stop Oil’s disruption, officers have been granted powers to remove activists in order to let travellers continue their day.
Section 12 of the Public Order Act allows police to demand that demonstrators get off the road or face arrest.
Police said they have removed more than 180 protesters in the morning protests.
A Met Police spokesperson wrote on Twitter: “Police have arrested 21 Just Stop Oil #protesters so far for breach of Section 12 conditions to move off the carriageway from various locations of protest.”
Just Stop Oil tweeted: “@metpoliceuk have been removing Just Stop Oil supporters from the roads...only for the marches to appear in new locations. We will not stand by while everything we know and love is destroyed.”
#UPDATE | Police have arrested 21 Just Stop Oil #protesters so far for breach of Section 12 conditions to move off the carriageway from various locations of protest.
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) July 17, 2023
🦺 @metpoliceuk have been removing Just Stop Oil supporters from the roads...only for the marches to appear in new locations.
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 17, 2023
💀 We will not stand by while everything we know and love is destroyed.
🖋️ Sign up to slow march at https://t.co/7BzUVS02dZ pic.twitter.com/14njGBzs4E
Police made the arrests as Just Stop Oil protesters blocked traffic at least 14 different locations across central London.
The wave of disruptive demonstrations started at Bishopsgate shortly before 8.25am. Police reportedly first moved five protesters slow walking in the road. Three who failed to move were arrested.
Further protests were broken up on Whitehall, Bird Cage Walk in Westminster, Bayswater Road, Lillie Road in Fulham and Jamaica Road in Bermondsey.
Other slow walking protests were staged at on Islington High Street, Kensington Road by the Royal Albert Hall, Praed Street in Paddington and Holloway Road.
Just after 11am, police also attended 25 protesters at Cromwell Road, 20 off Commercial Road and 13 off Wandsworth Bridge, according to the MailOnline.
Later in the morning officers also attended to 12 protesters in Bridge Street and six more on Cromwell Road.
The huge wave of protests comes after two Just Stop Oil protests tried to ruin the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
The pair were booed as they were bundled off stage after unfurling banners during the first night of the annual London festival.
