Just Stop Oil protestors target a Shell petrol station on the M25 earlier this year (Picture: Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
Police are ‘fully prepared’ to combat Just Stop Oil protests in the capital in the lead-up to Christmas, a top cop says.
Metropolitan Police commander Karen Findley said the environmental campaigners had already caused ‘significant disruption’ to Londoners and motorists using the M25.
She added: ‘We understand they are now set to cause further disruption in London in the run-up to Christmas, from 28 November to 14 December.’
But Ms Findley said police had robust policing measures in place to respond to the disruption.
In the last couple of months, Just Stop Oil has been using civil resistance and direct action in its campaign to halt future gas and oil projects.
The Met has arrested 755 activists and charged 182 in October and this month.
Ms Findley said: ‘We will always try to work with organisers so that protests can go ahead safely. However, Just Stop Oil do not engage with police in advance to share where they may protest or how many may be involved.
Metropolitan Police commander Karen Findlay (Picture: Supplied)
‘As their actions are spontaneous and could take place anywhere across the capital, we are having to use more officers to respond, regardless of whether any action takes place or not.’
She urged protesters to communicate with police and warned frustrated and angry motorists not to take the law into their own hands when faced with road blocks.
More: Just Stop Oil
‘We are determined to bring to justice all those activists who cause disruption or damage to London,’ she said.
‘We’re working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to ensure this happens.’
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The group is expected to cause further disruption in the coming weeks.
