UK environmental group, Just Stop Oil, is expected to begin two weeks of action from Monday and has accused the government and police of “groundhog day” rhetoric over crackdowns on protesters.
Scotland Yard said that it believes the environmental activist group will launch two weeks of “disruption” in London in the run-up to Christmas.
This is coming amid reports that the home secretary, Suella Braverma, will summon police chiefs to Downing Street for a meeting about cracking down on the group’s protests.
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A Whitehall source was quoted as saying that Braverman and the policing minister, Chris Philp are expected to meet police leaders and crime commissioners in Downing Street towards the end of the week. Braverman has previously accused police of failing in their duty and demanded tougher action on Just Stop Oil activists after they disrupted the M25 motorway earlier this month.
Responded to reports about Rishi Sunak clamping down on demonstrators via a statement on Sunday, Just Stop Oil said, “Does it feel like groundhog day? Haven’t we been here before with the last two prime ministers and their home secretaries?
The Met Police had said that 755 Just Stop Oil activists were arrested during October and November, with 182 charged.
Commander Karen Findlay said: “Activists are affecting people’s businesses, their lives, whether they are on their way to a doctor, a long-awaited hospital appointment, on their way to work, to interviews, or to collect children.
“Therefore, I again urge Just Stop Oil organisers to engage with us to minimise disruption to Londoners.”
The campaign group has vowed to continue its protests until the government agrees to halt all new oil and gas projects.
Recall that last week, two Just Stop Oil activists were found guilty of causing criminal damage after glueing themselves to the frame of a Vincent van Gogh painting at the National Gallery in London. Emily Brocklebank, 24, and Louis McKechnie, 22, caused just under £2,000 of damage at the Courtauld Gallery when they attached themselves to the 1889 work Peach Trees in Blossom, their trial heard.
Story was aapted from the Guardian.
