National Highways has said it is concerned that motorways in the South East will continue to be targeted by protesters, despite securing the renewal of an injunction covering the M25 and the nearby road network.
On Friday (5 May) the High Court gave a 12-month extension to an injunction imposed as part of measures to deter protesters from disrupting some of the busiest roads in England.
National Highways originally obtained the injunction covering the M25, M25 feeder roads and major roads in Kent last May. It will now remain in place for a further year – until 23.59 hrs on 10 May 2024.
It said anyone found to be in breach of the injunction order may face civil proceedings for contempt of court and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine, the seizure of assets or a combination of all three for breaching an injunction order.
The M25 is the country’s busiest motorway and has previously been the focus of what National Highways called ‘hugely disruptive protest action, most recently in November last year’.
The company said that given Just Stop Oil’s ongoing campaign of causing major disruption, ‘National Highways remains concerned that the motorways, predominantly in the South East, will continue to be targeted by protesters in the future’.
We informed the police & the highway authority yesterday that the #M25 would be disrupted — they knew but chose not to warn the public.
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) November 7, 2022
Sound familiar?
Fire, floods, drought — disruption from climate chaos won’t end. We must stop new oil and gas now.#COP27 #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/3fGBLlJgvA
Its general counsel, Tim Reardon, said: ‘We are really pleased to have obtained an extension to this injunction, so anyone intending to protest on the M25, its feeder routes and main roads around the Port of Dover – in additional to structures on the M25 - will run the risk of imprisonment, an unlimited fine or a seizure of assets, or a combination of all three.’
National Highways said it continues to work closely and collaboratively with police forces across areas affected by unlawful protest activity with the aim of keeping disruption to a minimum.
It noted that in addition to these civil injunctions, the police ‘have a range of powers under criminal laws that they can use to charge offenders with offences relating to protests on roads’.
The statement was issued before the coronation, where some of these powers were used against protestors.
The arrest and subsequent release without charge of six protestors - who were suspected of being equipped for locking on, a recent tactic used to obstruct transport networks - caused particular controversy.
The Metropolitan Police later expressing regret that those arrested had been prevented from exercising their legally-protected right to protest.
