Met Police Clash with Just Stop Oil Protesters in London Chaos
61 Arrested in 31 Minutes as Protests Rage On
The Metropolitan Police have been slammed into action on day one of fresh Just Stop Oil protests across London. Officers made a swift 61 arrests within just half an hour at Parliament Square, as activists staged slow marches aiming to get arrested and cause maximum disruption.
A Met spokesperson said: “We support lawful protest but are disappointed that Just Stop Oil is pushing its members to break the law and disrupt Londoners’ daily lives.”
Met Struggles Amid Rising Hate Crimes and Community Tensions
Commander Kyle Gordon revealed officers are stretched thin. “This is an extremely busy time for police as they respond to rising hate crime linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. It’s unacceptable that resources are being pulled from communities to manage unlawful protests.”
He added, “Public patience with Just Stop Oil is wearing thin, especially as some protests spill over into violence. We won’t tolerate protests that harm Londoners’ lives.”
Pre-emptive Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Before the protests even began, police made three arrests over conspiracy to cause public nuisance – including a 43-year-old man on 13 October and a 29-year-old woman and 57-year-old man on 18 October. All were bailed pending further inquiries.
Last week saw five more arrests during demonstrations at Wellington Arch and the Natural History Museum, highlighting the ongoing crackdown.
Met Pledges Tough Stance to Keep London Moving
The Met promises to use every power at their disposal to minimise disruption and keep Londoners going about their lives amid the protests. “We’ve heard from people who’ve missed hospital appointments, travel plans, and family events because of previous disruptions. We are duty-bound to allow lawful protest but not tolerate chaos.”
