New measures to crack down on environmental activists come into force from Sunday, including an expansion of police powers and a new criminal offence of tunnelling. The British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police will now have powers to move static protests, a common tactic of campaigners.
The Home Office said the move would free up officers, as Suella Braverman hit out at “mayhem” on the streets. Environmental campaigners such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have continued to hold demonstrations and protests.
Ministers have sought to use enhanced public order powers to target the tactics often used by those groups. From July 2, being found guilty of tunnelling or “being present in a tunnel to cause serious disruption” could see people jailed for up to three years.
