Insulate Britain has said that police are choosing not to detain protesters despite 438 arrests being made over the last two weeks.
In a press release, theclimate campaignersstated that 115 people have been involved in their campaign of disruptive actions, with most being arrested multiple times.
The climate group have been blocking roads at the Port of Dover and on and around the M25 network. Insulate Britain said that 15 of their supporters have been arrested as many as six times and 21 have been arrested five times for their participation in the campaign, which began on September 13th.
Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London.
Steve Parsons
The organisation say that five people have been arrested for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and subsequently released under investigation.
In a press release titled "Injunction? What Injunction?" they said: "The police are choosing not to detain people involved in the Insulate Britain campaign, although many have been involved in multiple actions, have broken their bail conditions and have expressed a clear intention to continue with the campaign."
"Only two people from Insulate Britain have so far been remanded in custody", added Insulate Britain.
Police officers had to carry some Insulate Britain protesters away from the roads leading to Heathrow Airport.
Steve Parsons
Activists, who have blocked the M25 six times in just over two weeks, continued their campaign despite a High Court injunction that could see them imprisoned, fined heavily, or having their assets seized.
In an open letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel, Insulate Britain vowed to continue its campaign in the face of arrests and injunctions.
It said: “We are more fearful of the loss of our country than we are of you.
“You can throw as many injunctions at us as you like, but we are going nowhere.
“You can raid our savings.
“You can confiscate our property.
“You can deny us our liberty and put us behind bars.
“But shooting the messenger can never destroy the message: that this country is going to hell unless you take emergency action to stop putting carbon into the air.”
Following the release of the 53 people from police custody, a Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The right to protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but we will not tolerate the guerrilla tactics we have witnessed over the last two weeks.
“That is why we sought injunctions to put an end to this behaviour, which wreaks havoc and puts people’s lives in danger.
“These injunctions are now in place, meaning that if people protest, or encourage others to do so, they face prison or an unlimited fine.”
National Highways, which was granted the injunction, has been contacted for comment.
