New criminal offences created to stop eco-activists holding the public ‘ransom’

Home secretary Suella Braverman wants to give police more powers to be ‘proactive’ (Pictures: Getty/PA/

Several protest methods favoured by climate change campaigners will be criminalised in a new crackdown announced by the Government.

Home secretary Suella Braverman has unveiled plans to increase the legal risk facing demonstrators.

She is using the proposed Public Order Bill, which will be debated in Parliament next week, to create new criminal offences.

Interfering with infrastructure, such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses will face stricter penalties.

Each instance could carry a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

‘Locking on’ – when protestors attach themselves to other people, objects or buildings – could see people imprisoned for six months or hit with an unlimited fine, if the action causes ‘serious disruption’.

Tunnelling to cause serious disruption will become a crime, with a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment as well as the potential for an unlimited fine.

Just Stop Oil protestors blocked the St George’s Circus roundabout in London on October 13 (Picture: Getty)

Extinction Rebellion protesters padlocked their necks to the railings of the Houses of Parliament last month (Picture: PA)

Going ‘equipped’ into tunnel, à la Swampy, will also be made illegal.

Police will also be given new powers to take a more ‘proactive’ approach, Ms Braverman said.

Secretaries of state will soon be able to apply for injunctions in the ‘public interest’ where protests are causing or threatening ‘serious disruption or a serious adverse impact on public safety’.

The new measures follow chaos caused by Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion activists in recent months.

The climate groups have previously blocked roads, vandalised shops, glued themselves to vehicles and more.

More than 350 Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested in London since the start of October.

Ms Braverman said: ‘I will not bend to protestors attempting to hold the British public to ransom.

‘Preventing our emergency services from reaching those who desperately need them is indefensible, hideously selfish and in no way in the public interest.

‘This serious and dangerous disruption, let alone the vandalism, is not a freedom of expression, nor a human right. It must stop.

‘The police need strengthened and tougher powers to match the rise in self-defeating protest tactics and that’s what the Public Order Bill will do.

‘It’s high time Parliament got behind it and put the law-abiding majority first.’

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Activists could face 12 months in jail.