Just Stop Oil Activists Face High Court Showdown Over M25 Chaos
Twelve Just Stop Oil supporters are set to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice from 10:30am on Monday 23 October for a five-day civil trial. They are the first of 35 protesters accused of flouting a National Highways injunction last November.
Breaking the Law Over M25 Gantries
The group allegedly broke the injunction by climbing or trying to climb gantries above the M25 motorway in November 2022. National Highways secured the injunction on 5 November, just days before the protests kicked off on the 7th.
Harsh Penalties on the Table
If found guilty, the activists could face up to two years in prison, unlimited fines, and asset seizures. On top of that, they may be hit with hefty legal cost bills running from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds.
Many of those involved have already endured long spells on remand, restrictive bail conditions, and even ankle tags. Some also face separate public nuisance trials in criminal courts across 2024 and 2025.
Just Stop Oil Fires Back
“The government provides legal protection and tax breaks for those who flood our towns and cities, burn our forests and destroy homes where people have lived for generation after generation,” said a Just Stop Oil spokesperson. “The mask has slipped. Ordinary people are not protected by our failing politicians – they are persecuted for doing the right thing.”
