Video: Police Act Against Climate Protesters Blocking M25 Motorway

Insulate Britain is led by Extinction Rebellion co-founder Roger Hallam, the SUV-driving global warming activist who was arrested and charged in September 2019 for his part in a plot to endanger tens of thousands of lives by flying drones over Heathrow Airport.

Police have moved swiftly to arrest dozens of climate change activists blocking the M25 motorway around London — after days of disruption from similar protests.

Essex, Kent, and Surrey Police collared members of Insulate Britain, one of many groups connected to Extinction Rebellion (XR).

The group said 79 of its "newly released campaigners" had tried to block the orbital motorway hours after being released from custody following their arrests for similar actions on Wednesday.

This was the moment an eco mob tried to block access to the M25 for the third time this week, with police swooping in to try and arrest them before they caused chaos. Read more: https://t.co/cA0LZCeFZk pic.twitter.com/5VIodyVDCW

— LBC (@LBC) September 17, 2021

The Police have FINALLY got tough on an eco mob who tried to block the M25 for a third time this week, arresting them within minutes of their protests starting.

Read more: https://t.co/cA0LZCeFZk pic.twitter.com/t6rLKH517R

— LBC (@LBC) September 17, 2021

Essex Police said they had made 24 arrests on the M25 and M11 — the main route to the county's Stansted Airport. Protesters painted the campaign's initials on the roadway during their sit-in in a bid to delay its reopening.

🚨PAINT ON THE #M25🚨

🎨 A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS

⛔️Radio silence from @10DowningStreet on their plan to #InsulateBritain forced us to block the #M25 for a third time

‼️Paint has been poured onto the road, causing further disruption. We cannot afford to give up. pic.twitter.com/Kyc84fXB0S

— Insulate Britain (@InsulateLove) September 17, 2021

"Incidents of this nature have the potential to cause significant disruption to road users, who may need to get to work, an appointment, or catch a flight", Essex Superintendent Sam Smith said.

We've acted quickly to minimise disruption and make 24 arrests after attempts to block parts of the #M25 and #M11 this morning.

It follows incidents at the junction with the #A12 on the M25 and the junction with the #A120 on the #M11.

Read more: https://t.co/Xi00EN4fuB pic.twitter.com/FDRC5Uln6x

— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) September 17, 2021

"Our officers worked quickly to remove attempted protests this morning and made 24 arrests in a matter of minutes", Smith stressed. "The roads have now reopened and traffic is moving freely. I want to thank the drivers affected for their patience and understanding".

Surrey Police said they had arrested 14 people at Junction 9 of the M25 near Leatherhead and 10 more at Junction 1 of the M3 — the south-western route out of London to Southampton — at Sunbury-on-Thames.

The sit-down action caused two lanes of the motorway to be closed on the anti-clockwise side, causing tailbacks, but the junctions were cleared by 10:15 am.

To update, we have arrested 10 people at junction 1 of the M3, and the carriageway is clear. Junction 9 of the M25 is also clear.

— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) September 17, 2021

Insulate Britain claims to be campaigning against climate poverty by demanding the government improve home insulation — which it is already doing through its Green Homes Grant scheme.

But a protester named only as Harry, a solar energy engineer from Cornwall in the south-west of England, said his concerns were about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Although I actively chose a career in the renewable energy sector, I feel like I need to do more to prepare this country for the oncoming effects of climate change", Harry said. "I don't believe the government is doing enough. I'm taking part in this action because I want the government to move faster on reducing CO2 emissions".

The group's leaders include Roger Hallam, a co-founder of XR who was arrested in September 2019 and charged with conspiring to cause a public nuisance over his part in a plot to fly aerial drones over Heathrow Airport, potentially risking tens of thousands of passengers' lives.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the roadblocks put "drivers at risk and INCREASES pollution" — and put the police on notice to crack down on them.

This is dangerous and counterproductive. We all agree that climate change must be tackled, but this sort of behaviour achieves nothing, puts drivers at risk and INCREASES pollution. I expect the police to take swift action to clear the roads. pic.twitter.com/8YqouvXKuw

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021

One woman had to be airlifted to hospital on Tuesday after a pile-up in tailbacks on the M25 caused by the protesters.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the police had the government's support, and stressed that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill soon to become law would make public nuisance a serious criminal offence.

"This government will not stand by and allow a small minority of selfish protesters to cause significant disruption to the lives and livelihoods of the hard-working majority", Patel said.

"This kind of disruption is dangerous and takes police away from communities where they are needed most", she added. "That's exactly why we are giving police the powers to better manage such highly disruptive demonstrations in future".