Local junctions on M25 again targeted by JustStopOil campaigners
By Neil Speight
8th Nov 2022 | Local News
WHILE three members of the JustStopOil campaign were preparing to face court today (Tuesday, 8 November) fellow campaigners repeated their actions and brought sections of the M25 to a halt or slowdown this morning.
The latest protests happened early morning at 11 junctions on the motorway. Nine of them were also targeted yesterday , including Junction 30 in Thurrock.
At the junction a woman was arrested after climbing a gantry. Officers were patrolling the M25 when they became aware of a woman on a gantry at J31 at the Dartford river crossing shortly before 7am.
Specialist officers were dispatched and safely brought the woman down to arrest her within 90 minutes of the first report.
A protest also took place this morning on the Kent side of the Dartford crossing.
Three of the four people arrested yesterday have been charged and were due to appear in court today.
Joseph Linheart, Rosemary Jackson and Luke Elson have all been charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance.
Linheart, 20, of Dickenson Road, London, N8, Jackson, 24, of Buxton Road, London, E15, and Elson, 29, also of Buxton Road, London, E15, were scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning.
The continued action by JustStopOil has been condemned by government business minister Grant Shapps who said he hopes protesters 'spend' Christmas in prison. Mr Shapps, who previously served as transport secretary, said it was "outrageous" for protesters to block the motorway and disrupt people's lives.
Speaking as yesterday's protest was taking place, Mr Shapps said that the action was "unacceptable and illegal". Mr Shapps told Nick Ferrari of LBC: "I've no issue with people arguing for lower levels of petrol, gas or whatever other thing they want to campaign for usage, that is fine, that is one thing. But don't go disrupting other people's lives - it's unacceptable, it's illegal!
"When I was Transport Secretary, I made sure that National Highways used injunctions and quite a number of people from one of their sister campaign organisations spent this Christmas in prison. I hope that's what happens here as well."
"There are perfectly legitimate ways to campaign on things like climate change if that's what they want to do. I'm going to COP later this week to try to help with these issues but don't go and disrupt people's lives and businesses and families trying to go about their business. I hope that justice is served up to these people."
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