A further 23 individuals have been charged following the Just Stop Oil protests in London, according to the Metropolitan Police. The charges were made under Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, and those charged appeared in court on Thursday, 2 November.
The protests initially came to the attention of officers when they received reports of demonstrators obstructing Earl’s Court Road, near the junction with Cromwell Road, at 9.04am on Wednesday, 1 November. The police arrived at the scene within four minutes, and arrests commenced shortly thereafter. In total, 36 people were arrested, and the road was reopened within 28 minutes.
Out of the 36 arrests made, 13 individuals have been released on bail while further investigations are carried out. With these additional charges, the total number of people arrested in connection with the Just Stop Oil protests this week now stands at 98, with 54 individuals facing charges.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said, ‘Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023 empowers officers to make arrests if a protester intentionally or recklessly interferes with the use or operation of critical national infrastructure. Arrests can be made if a protester disproportionately disrupts “road transport infrastructure.” However, the police take into account a person’s right to protest before making an arrest
The individuals charged include Anthony Havey, Jessica Sole, Rosemary Venn, Jamie Russell, Marcin Wawrzyn, Ami Bennett, Merie Ross Gering, Leonorah Ward, Ruby Hamill, Christopher Groves, Rosemary Robinson, Jessica Upton, Zelda Jeffers, Chiara Sarti, Gilbert Frances Murray, Christine Kelly, Gordon Garrick, Thomas Barber, Taylor Anne, Karen Wildin, Michelle Cadet-Rose, Meredith Williams, and Samuel Griffiths.
