Just Stop Oil’s eco-madness costs police £4.5million in just six weeks
Met Police estimate 13,770 officer shifts have been devoted to policing Just Stop Oil
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Just Stop Oil’s disruptive antics have not only frustrated commuters but also proved a drain on police resources and time.
Having marched slowly in front of London traffic since April 24, it has been estimated by the Metropolitan Police that around 13,770 officer shifts have been devoted to stopping Just Stop Oil activists.
The estimated cost of policing this disruption has ballooned to £4.5million in just six weeks.
This adds to the £7.5million spent on policing protests between October and December 2022.
Police have arrested 86 individuals since new powers introduced
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Just Stop Oil have also targeted events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, Premiership rugby final and World Snooker Championship.
Last month, officers were handed new powers to remove protesters from the road should they be deemed to be causing significant disruption.
It is claimed that these powers have been used in 125 of 156 slow marches this year, with police arresting 86 people so far for failure to comply of which 49 have been charged.
Deputy assistant commissioner, Ade Adelekan, said on Monday: “In deploying the new tactics of moving slowly in front of traffic, Just Stop Oil’s intent has been clear on disrupting road users.
Just Stop Oil disrupted the Premiership rugby final
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“This has caused significant impact to the public and officers have been responding as swiftly as possible once aware of the incidents.”
Adelekan added: “We know this action has been very frustrating for the public who just want to carry on with their day-to-day business.
“We would urge the public not to intervene or take matters into their own hands, but to call the police, let us know where the incident is.”
On Monday, Just Stop Oil targeted Victoria Street, Cromwell Road in Chelsea and near the Imax in Waterloo.
Tensions between activists and motorists are simmering
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Today, Upper Street in Islington was reportedly blocked by Just Stop Oil.
Tensions between activists and motorists have been boiling over recently, with the latter taking matters into their own hands last week.
A man also threw a Just Stop Oil protester to the floor and smashed their phone.
Rishi Sunak launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party last week after they revealed plans to end North Sea gas and oil exploration, which the Prime Minister described as "completely bizarre."
The Prime Minister said: "It does appear that these kind of eco-zealots at Just Stop Oil are writing Keir Starmer's energy policy and, not content with disrupting our summer and cherished sporting events, they are essentially leading us into an energy surrender.”
"My view is we should focus on energy security, not weakness and dependency which seems to be the Labour Party's policy.
“They are putting ideology ahead of jobs, ahead of investment, and ahead of our energy security.
“I think that is wrong.
"It is a completely bizarre policy which says 'we won't ban oil and gas; we will just ban British oil and gas.”
A heated debate was had on GB News between a Just Stop Oil and presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg last week.