Insulate Britain: Protesters block M25 junction twice in a day

Insulate Britain protesters blocked the same junction of the M25 for a second time on Wednesday.

Eleven activists were arrested after police were called to junction three - the Swanley Interchange - at 07:30 BST.

The roundabout was reopened but protesters returned at about 13:00 BST, with one gluing himself to a police car while others superglued themselves to the road.

Police said they arrived within three minutes and arrested 16 more people.

All 27 were held on suspicion of obstructing the highway and conspiracy to commit criminal damage and are in custody, a police spokeswoman said.

A High Court injunction banning protests around the M25 and Dartford Crossing was issued on Thursday.

It stated demonstrators were banned from "causing damage to the surface" on or around the M25.

A spokesman for Insulate Britain said: "We are going nowhere. You can raid our savings. You can confiscate our property. You can deny us our liberty and put us behind bars.

"But shooting the messenger can never destroy the message that this country is going to hell unless you take emergency action to stop putting carbon into the air."

The demonstration by Insulate Britain, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, is the sixth to cause disruption on the M25 in three weeks.

On 13 September, protesters blocked five M25 junctions in Hertfordshire, Essex and Surrey.

Thirty-nine people from the group were arrested after blocking the Port of Dover on Friday.

Surrey's police and crime commissioner Lisa Townsend said police had found it difficult to bring charges and had received "flak" over their response.

She said: "It has been very difficult for the police because if they charge the protesters with a relatively minor offence, it is likely to be discontinued.

"If they try to elevate the charge to a more serious one, they are finding it is not reaching the necessary threshold.

"The public deserves to see a response from all parts of the criminal justice system and it is unfair for the police to be blamed if people do not end up before the courts."

However, the government said on Wednesday night legal proceedings had begun against any activists who faced fines or prison for blocking the motorway.

The activists have been warned they will be served injunction papers by enforcement officers from the High Court.

A government spokesman said: "We are already knocking on doors and serving papers to offenders who will be sent to court and could face fines or prison.

"Police continue making arrests and are working closely with National Highways to shut down these illegal demonstrations and keep the public safe."

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].