Essex Police make more arrests over fuel protests

Essex Police said it had made a total of 338 arrests over oil protests

More than 20 climate protesters have arrived at Exolum Storage in Grays and have positioned themselves in a dangerous location, Essex Police said.

Officers have made 338 arrests in total following protests at oil terminals.

The activists want the government to halt new oil and gas projects.

The force's Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said the protests were "exceptionally dangerous" because of where the group had "located themselves within the site".

He said officers were in the process of making a further 26 arrests.

Activists from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been blocking access to oil terminals since 1 April.

'Real risk of harm'

Mr Pavelin said: "We cannot stand by while criminal acts are being committed, and lives are being put at risk, in the name of protest.

"We are not anti-protest.

"Our job is to preserve life and catch criminals, and that's what we're going to do.

"We've been really clear with the protestors. Their acts of criminality on site are not only illegal, but they are continuing to put themselves and our officers at real risk of harm and that is unacceptable."

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet said Essex Police had spent £1m dealing with the demonstrations

Hertfordshire Police have made 13 arrests after protests at Buncefield Oil Terminal in Green Lane, Hemel Hempstead.

The force said officers were called at 02:20 BST to "reports of people blocking the entrance" and "located 33 protesters outside the site".

Protesters were warned if they did not leave they would be arrested, the force said.

"A total of 13 people were subsequently arrested and taken to police custody, where they remain at this time," it said.

The site entrance was clear by 12:00.

A spokesperson for the UKPIA - the trade association representing companies involved in refining, terminal operations and filling stations - said fuels were continuing to be delivered, "meaning stocks are being replenished".

They added: "The ongoing protest activity is affecting some deliveries but disruptions are localised and short-term only. The industry is working hard to ensure fuels are being delivered as quickly as possible."