Protesters who dig tunnels in Essex could go to prison under new laws
Anyone who digs dangerous tunnels in a bit to disrupt traffic in Essex could face up to three years in prison under tougher powers passed by the Government. New criminal offences and police powers, backed by tough penalties, are now in force to stop protesters interfering with people's daily lives and the transport network.
Last August climate activists from Just Stop Oil dug a tunnel beneath St Clements Way in Grays[1] to disrupt transport to and from a nearby oil terminal. They stayed there for more than ten days before eventually being arrested by police[2] officers.
At the time, Essex Police chief superintendent Simon Anslow said the incident "required a huge amount of resources" and diverted officers away from other duties "such as the prevention and investigation of burglary, robbery, sexual, and violent crime".
The strengthened powers will now allow judges to sentence activists who dig dangerous tunnels to up to three years in prison. A new criminal offence of tunnelling or being present in a tunnel "to cause serious disruption" will carry a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Other new offences include taking equipment to carry and obstruction of major transport works. They carry maximum penalties of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
From today (Sunday, July 2), the British Transport Police can also place conditions on static protests such as requiring activists to move off the road. The Home Office says the strengthened laws will ensure people can get to work whilst officers "can spend more time patrolling the streets, preventing offences like theft and protecting our communities".
The Home Office says the strengthened powers will "reclaim" the roads for the public. A spokesperson said the laws will also protect future transport networks, making it illegal to obstruct the building or maintenance of such infrastructure.
Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested in September after digging a tunnel in Essex - under the new laws, they could face three years imprisonment (Image: Essex Police)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "Hard-working people want to be able to go about their daily lives without disruption from a selfish minority. The Public Order Act is delivering on our commitment to allow people to get on with their daily business. We will keep our roads and those hard-working people moving.
"The public have had enough of their lives being disrupted by selfish protesters. The mayhem we’ve seen on our streets has been a scandal. That is why I’ve given our police officers the powers they need to act fast and clamp down on these protesters determined to disrupt people’s lives."
References
- ^ dug a tunnel beneath St Clements Way in Grays (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ before eventually being arrested by police (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ Man and woman found dead at Essex Premier Inn alongside mystery 'substance' as police launch probe (www.essexlive.news)