M25 protests: Protesters 'may cause serious injury or death'

The group is calling for government action on home insulation

Protesters who targeted the M25 five times in just over a week have been warned by police their tactics may cause "serious injury or death".

Thirty eight people were arrested after climate activists held a further protest, police have confirmed.

Insulate Britain stopped traffic on both carriageways of the M25 between junctions 9 and 10, near Cobham in Surrey, just after 08:00 BST.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the protest was "unacceptable".

Ch Insp Mike Hodder and Ch Supt Jerry Westerman from Surrey Police said protesters charging into motorway traffic were putting drivers at a "very high" risk of death, but the admitted police powers to charge them were "pretty limited".

'Messing around'

Members of the group walked on to the road in front of moving vehicles before being dragged away by police.

Insulate Britain, which is calling for government action on home insulation, said blue paint was poured on to the road during its latest protest.

Ch Insp Hodder said: "The risk of injury or death is very high when you're messing around on a motorway which in some sections is four lanes of live traffic.

"Protesters standing on the hard shoulder and making an effort to get in to live traffic, anyone with a simple mind can understand that the result from that sort of action will be serious injury or death, and it could cause other motorists to react and have further accidents due to the consequences of those protesters making irrational decisions.

"We're very worried about serious injury and death."

The Home Office said the police had its full support after officers made more arrests

In a video released by the group, a protester said: "I am here today because the government needs to cut emissions. We need to insulate Britain. It is a win-win, a quick easy win to reduce emissions and to end fuel poverty."

Insulate Britain said it had written to the home secretary on Monday, but received no response, adding: "As soon as we hear a meaningful commitment that we can trust, we will end the campaign."

Tuesday's protest was the fifth in just over a week. On Monday, 41 arrests were made at protests in Hertfordshire and Kent.

'Willing to go to prison'

Insulate Britain protester Dr Bing Jones said: "I accept that I put my life at risk. I don't really accept that we have put other lives at risk.

"I'm not worried about other people. I am a little bit worried about myself, my wife is very anxious about me."

The Sheffield environmentalist, who has been arrested four times in the last eight days, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "I really think it is worth it. I'm willing to go to prison over this".

He added: "The disruption weighs heavy on me but it is necessary. Insulating houses is by far the most cost-effective means of reducing carbon emissions within the UK and it could bring millions of people out of fuel poverty."

By about 10:00 BST, Surrey Police said all but one lane had reopened

Surrey Police said it had removed all protesters from both carriageways of the M25 before 08:20 BST.

The 38 people were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences, including criminal damage, causing danger to road users, wilful obstruction of the highway and causing a public nuisance.

Police officers carried protesters from the road after they "ignored" requests to move

Ch Supt Westerman said: "This is the second week of protest activity on one of the busiest roads in the region.

"Fortunately, we were on scene within three minutes of the first call coming in and took swift and robust action to ensure protesters were removed from both carriageways after they ignored our requests to move on peacefully."

He said the force was "working tirelessly to collect evidence to ensure anyone breaking the law is brought to justice" and appealed for video or dashcam footage "as a matter of urgency".

Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Patel said: "I know the public will agree that the scenes on the M25 last week and today are completely unacceptable.

"The police have our full support. They must uphold the law and take decisive action. This kind of disruption is dangerous and takes police away from communities where they are needed most."

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