Police officer injured in ‘Just Stop Oil’ London protest

The unabating Just Stop Oil protests on the M25, Greater London led to a police officer being injured on Wednesday.

According to a report by MyLondon newspaper, the injured officer was riding a motorcycle when it collided with two lorries during a rolling roadblock.

It quotes Essex Police as informing that the roadblock was introduced on Wednesday morning on the motorway between Junctions 26 and 27.

The condition of the officer remained unknown at press time.

Today marks the third consecutive day of Just Stop Oil protests on the UK’s busiest motorway, and after the group staged 32 days of disruption from the end of September throughout October.

According to the Metropolitan Police, Just Stop Oil protests have resulted in 677 arrests with 111 people charged.

Just Stop Oil has reportedly said its supporters have been arrested more than 2,000 times since the campaign began on April 1, and 15 are currently in prison.

MyLondon quoted Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow, regarding this morning’s incident as saying: “Officers have again responded quickly to minimise disruption and two people have already been arrested. One of our officers has been injured as they worked to help resolve this situation.

“Our roads policing officers are dedicated, specialist officers who come to work to serve the public and keep you safe on our roads. They do this tirelessly, day in, day out. Sadly, this morning one of these fantastic officers has been injured while carrying out this work.

“My thoughts are with them and their family. I want to thank the public for their support, patience and understanding while we work to resolve this situation.”

The paper also quoted Just Stop Oil expressing regret over the situation: “The collision of two lorries and the injury of a police officer on the M25 this morning is an awful situation. The level of disruption being witnessed on the M25 should not be happening – people are rightly angry and frustrated.

“The failure of our politics has left us with no other option as we seek to protect our rights and freedoms from a collapse in law and order due to a heating world. The Government can end this, immediately, by ending dirty new oil and gas.”