Police have taken a tougher approach as 79 climate protestors attempted to block the M25 for the third time this week.
Kent Police arrested ten Insulate Britain activists blocking the road at Junction 3 in Swanley at around 8.20am this morning.
Surrey Police also arrested 14 activists after they stormed Junction 9 at around 9am, as another group attempted to disrupt Junction 1 of the M3.
It comes after home secretary Priti Patel spoke out against the group’s “guerrilla tactics” which she said “detract from their cause”.
We were made aware of protesters at junction 9 of the M25 earlier this morning. 14 people have been arrested. We were also made aware shortly after 9am of protesters at junction 1 of the M3. We are on the scene and arrests are being made. Further updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/Nn67ulQNBU
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) September 17, 2021
Officers from Essex Police were waiting for protestors at Junction 28, in Brentwood, managing to arrest several before they reached the road.
Eight made it through the police line, managing to set up a blockade.
Protestors are understood to have also blocked roads a Junction 3 and 9 of the M25, along with blocked junction 8 of the M11 and the A120 near Stansted Airport.
A spokesperson for Insulate Britain said: “79 people from Insulate Britain attempted to block the M25 for a third time in a week, hours after being released by police.
“They are demanding that Boris gets on with the job of insulating Britain’s homes starting with the homes of the poorest people in the country.
“The campaigners aimed to block a number of roundabouts and junctions on the M25 network. At Junction 28 in Essex, the police were ready and waiting for the campaigners.
“They managed to prevent 12 out of 20 from making it onto the carriageway, leading them off in handcuffs.
“The remainder managed to get onto the road and partially blocked the carriageway.
“Elsewhere, blue paint was poured onto the road, which will lead to further disruption.”
The group said 89 activists were released from custody across the south east on Thursday morning.
The Met arrested three people yesterday on suspicion of orchestrating the first two protests, which took place on Monday and Wednesday.
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