Just Stop Oil protests - live: Climate activists block A4 after Dartford Crossing reopens

Just Stop Oil protesters have blocked a busy road in London in the latest round of demonstrations aimed at raising the alarm about the climate emergency.

Dozens of activists stopped traffic on the A4 Cromwell Road near the Natural History Museum in Kensington as they demanded the government halt all new fossil fuel licences.

It come after a major bridge on the Dartford Crossing reopened to traffic after two Just Stop Oil protesters hung off it for 37 hours, causing severe delays.

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25 was closed off to drivers after two activists scaled the 190-ft structure on Monday morning and even spent the night up there.

National Highways confirmed the bridge reopened to drivers just before 10pm that night after being checked for damages.

Key Points

• Traffic jams around Dartford Crossing as protest continues

• M25 Dartford Crossing bridge closed for second day

• ‘Long delays’ at Dartford Crossing

• Police arrest 26 in Hammersmith protest

Just Stop Oil protesters block road in London

11:47 , Chris Baynes

Dozens of Just Stop Oil activists have stopped traffic on the A4 Cromwell Road in London in the latest stage of their climate protest:

Thank you for following our coverage

Tuesday 18 October 2022 23:12 , Lucy Skoulding

Thank you for following our coverage of the Just Stop Oil protests today.

We are ending our live coverage for today, but please check back on the Independent for future updates on this ongoing story.

QE2 bridge reopens

Tuesday 18 October 2022 22:15 , Lucy Skoulding

The QE2 bridge has now fully reopened so vehicles can drive across it again.

There’s still long traffic delays but queues should slowly start to ease up now the bridge has reopened.

National Highways tweeted: “The #QEIIBridge at #DartfordCrossing is now fully open.

“Long delays remain on the #M25 clockwise and anti-clockwise but these should start to ease now.”

Video of protesters descending from bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:40 , Lucy Skoulding

Just Stop Oil has now shared a video of the two protesters who spent 37 hours hanging from the QE2 bridge descending to the ground.

Activists Morgan and Marcus were lowered to safety in a “giant cherrypicker”. They were then arrested by police.

Just Stop Oil tweeted: “After a successful 37 hour occupation, Morgan and Marcus descended from Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on a giant cherrypicker, having majorly disrupted fuel deliveries from Essex to the South East of England.”

Police share photo of scene

Tuesday 18 October 2022 20:10 , Lucy Skoulding

Essex Police have shared a photo of the scene where the QE2 bridge on the M25 was closed off today due to protesters from Just Stop Oil.

Two activists spent 36 hours hanging off the bridge in protest. The bridge had to be closed off to traffic for safety reasons, causing chaos on the M25.

After scaling the bridge in the early hours of Monday morning, the protesters came down at around 5pm today. They were then arrested by police.

Police statement on arrests

Tuesday 18 October 2022 19:40 , Lucy Skoulding

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow from Essex Police, who led the operation, said:

“We cannot tolerate people carrying out activity which puts lives at risk and prevents people from going about their lives.

“I know this has been really frustrating for the public and the disruption has negatively impacted on businesses and meant people have been late for, or missed, appointments.

“Alongside our partners, we worked hard to resolve this complex situation as quickly and safely as possible.

“Now the situation has been resolved, National Highways will make the decision about when and how the bridge can re-open.

“I want to again reiterate; we are not in any way anti-protest, and we will always seek to facilitate safe protest where we can.

“However, it is unacceptable for people to think they can put lives in danger with irresponsible actions. In this case, it is clear that we had to act, but that action had to be safe and responsible, and I want to again thank the public for their patience and understanding.”

QE2 bridge still closed

Tuesday 18 October 2022 19:35 , Lucy Skoulding

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge is still closed while it is inspected for damage to make sure it’s safe for vehicles to drive across again.

It’s National Highways’ responsibility to decide when the bridge can reopen to traffic.

Currently it’s still closed, causing huge delays on the M25 and the surrounding areas.

National Highways tweeted: “Thank you for your patience as we inspect the QE2 bridge to make sure it hasn’t been damaged. We’re working hard to get this done as safely and quickly as possible so we can get everyone back on the move.

“We’ll let you know as soon as the #DartfordCrossing re-opens to traffic.”

Activists arrested

Tuesday 18 October 2022 18:54 , Lucy Skoulding

Two Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested after coming down from the QE2 bridge.

Essex Police said in a statement: “Two people who had been at height on the Dartford Crossing have now been brought down and arrested.

“We have worked hard with our partners to bring this situation to a safe conclusion and considered all options available to us.

“This afternoon, we brought in an elevated platform which allowed specialist officers to work from height.

“That operation was a success and two men have now been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.

“Our specialist team will be leading the investigation and will be collating evidence for a Crown Prosecution Service decision. Our firm intention is to seek a positive outcome that prevents further dangerous disruption.”

Read the full story here.

Just Stop Oil makes statement

Tuesday 18 October 2022 18:22 , Lucy Skoulding

Just Stop Oil has shared a statement on Twitter after two activists spent 36 hours hanging from the Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25 in protest.

The climate action group said it achieved its aim of disrupting oil supplies to Kent and the South East.

The group tweeted: “We successfully disrupted oil supplies to Kent & the South East for 36 hours.

“We are stepping down now but other supporters of Just Stop Oil will be stepping up day after day, causing disruption & putting their liberty on the line to demand that the government ends new oil & gas.”

Traffic jams around Dartford Crossing

Tuesday 18 October 2022 18:19 , Zoe Tidman

The Dartford Crossing protest has led to traffic queuing up around the surrounding area.

Here are some images from earlier today:

Essex Police says ‘unacceptable’ for people to ‘selfishly stop others going about lives'

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:47 , Zoe Tidman

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow from Essex Police says the force is “doing everything possible to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible”.

“To be clear, we are not in any way anti-protest. The right to protest is enshrined in law and we will always seek to facilitate safe protest where we can,” he said.

“However, it is unacceptable for people to think they can put lives in danger and selfishly stop others going about their lives and the public rightly expect us to take action against anyone who believes they can do this – and we will.”

Two activists agree to leave bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:35 , Lucy Skoulding

Just Stop Oil has just tweeted to say the two activists who have been hanging off the QE2 bridge have “agreed to cooperate with police and leave the bridge”.

It added: “#JustStopOil will continue in #CivilResistance to harmful politics and our criminal government. To protect our rights, freedoms and the rule of law.”

Activists Morgan and Marcus have spent 36 hours hanging over the bridge, including spending the night there.

Cars faced gridlock and long delays aound the Dartford Crossing as the two protesters refused to leave the 190-ft structure.

Giant cherry picker arrives

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:21 , Lucy Skoulding

Just Stop Oil has just tweeted that the “super cherry picker” has arrived at the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

The climate action group has been sharing updates on its Twitter page as activists have shut down the major bridge on the M25, causing severe delays.

The activists have spent 36 hours dangling 449ft in the air off the bridge, but have agreed to come down after police have brought in the giant crane.

Essex Police on latest developments at QE2 bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 17:16 , Zoe Tidman

Here is the latest from Essex Police:

“A special raised platform is being brought in as we consider all options to resolve the situation at the Dartford Crossing and bring it to a safe conclusion.

“We are continuing to work with our partners to remove two people who remain at height on the QEII bridge.

“When that safe conclusion is reached, the two people will be arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.

“A raised platform is arriving imminently on the QEII bridge. That platform will allow specialists to work at height and continue meaningful engagement with the two people.”

Platform for specialists to ‘continue engagement’ with 2 climbers

Tuesday 18 October 2022 16:46 , Lucy Skoulding

A raised platform has been brought in by police officers after the Dartford Crossing remained blocked by two Just Stop Oil protesters for the second day in a row.

Essex Police said the platform would allow specialists to work at height on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex, and “continue meaningful engagement” with the two climbers.

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said in a tweet from the force: “The 2 ppl who remain at height on the bridge have put themselves in danger…

“As a result, we and our emergency services face a considerable challenge. Our priority is to keep our county moving but we also have a duty of care to the 2 people, as well as those who may be involved in any resolution at height.”

He added: “I know this situation is incredibly frustrating, but we are doing everything possible to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Video from QE2 bridge protester

Tuesday 18 October 2022 16:45 , Zoe Tidman

Here is more from one of the activists on the bridge:

‘Raised platform’ being brought to bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 16:15 , Zoe Tidman

Essex Police say they are bringing in a raised platform to help resolve the protest at the QE2 bridge.

The force said it would arrest the two activists once removed:

Activist sings on QE2 bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:56 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil have shared a tweet of one of the activists on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge singing:

Who are Just Stop Oil?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:33 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil are once again hitting the headlines over a string of protests - including climbing to the top of a bridge over the River Thames, throwing soup over a Van Gogh masterpiece and blocking a major route into London.

But who are Just Stop Oil and what do they want?

Furvah Shah and I have taken a look:

Who are Just Stop Oil?

No 10 says new powers will tackle Just Stop Oil ‘guerrilla tactics’

Tuesday 18 October 2022 15:02 , Zoe Tidman

Downing Street said new offences and tougher police powers would help tackle the “guerrilla tactics” employed by Just Stop Oil.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman would not be drawn on the police response to the Dartford Crossing protests.

“I wouldn’t get into comment on individual operational policing decisions,” he said, but added: “I think we have seen in the past, too often, these protesters able to disrupt lives, cause mass misery and stop emergency services going about their work.”

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and the Public Order Bill going through the Commons today would beef up the powers available to officers.

“We are we are ensuring the police have even more powers so they can stop these sorts of guerrilla tactics,” the spokesperson said.

PA

What else have Just Stop Oil been up to this month?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 14:38 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil are carrying out a month of protests in a call to end all new oil and gas licenses.

Here is a recap of some of the biggest moments so far:

Van drives through Just Stop Oil protesters blocking London road

Climate activist pours human faeces over Captain Tom statue

Protesters throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers masterpiece

Just Stop Oil protesters glue themselves to the road outside Buckingham Palace

Just Stop Oil ‘undeterred'

Tuesday 18 October 2022 14:10 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil has vowed to keep causing disruption until its demands are met:

Traffic around Dartford Crossing

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:51 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil protesters on the Queen Elizabeth II bridge continue to cause traffic chaos in the surrounding area.

Live trackers show there is gridlock around Thurrock, Purleet, Dartford, South Ockendon and Lakeside.

National Highways shows traffic was moving slowly along stretches of the M25 in the area in the afternoon.

Images from Dartford Crossing protest

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:35 , Zoe Tidman

And here are some images from the Queen Elizabeth II bridge today:

Police arrest 26 in Hammersmith protest

Tuesday 18 October 2022 13:14 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil have also been active in west London this morning.

Police have arrested 26 protesters who blocked a road around Barons Court tube station in Hammersmith - some of whom had glued themselves to the tarmac or locked themselves to others.

Here are some images from the action today:

Why is the Dartford Crossing important?

Tuesday 18 October 2022 12:55 , Zoe Tidman

The A282 Dartford Crossing is the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.

The 1.7-mile Queen Elizabeth II bidge southbound and two 0.8-mile tunnels northbound link Essex and Kent.

The A282 also connects directly at both ends with the M25 London Orbital Motorway, one of the busiest in Europe.

Activist shares footage on top of bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 12:37 , Zoe Tidman

Just Stop Oil activist who spent the night hanging from the near-450ft high cables of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge has shared footage from his makeshift bed.

Watch on Independent TV:

Just Stop Oil activist hangs nearly 450ft above Dartford Crossing in makeshift bed

Essex Police on Dartford Crossing protest

Tuesday 18 October 2022 12:11 , Zoe Tidman

Here is the latest from an Essex Police spokesperson on the protest at the Dartford Crossing:

“We’re working with our partners to identify the safest and quickest way to resolve the situation. But as you can imagine, they’re 100 metres up in the air. It’s very complex. These things can take time.”

Traffic jams around bridge

Tuesday 18 October 2022 11:52 , Zoe Tidman

Independent TV has some footage showing the travel chaos around the crossing this morning:

Just Stop Oil: Long traffic delays continue around Dartford Crossing for second day

‘Long delays’ at Dartford Crossing

Tuesday 18 October 2022 11:33 , Zoe Tidman

National Highways says the Dartford Crossing is still closed while the Just Stop Oil action is ongoing on the bridge.

There are “long delays” as a result:

‘I was pretty cold'

Tuesday 18 October 2022 11:14 , Zoe Tidman

Here is one of the activists at the top of the bridge describing his stay overnight:

M25 Dartford Crossing bridge closure

Tuesday 18 October 2022 10:55 , Zoe Tidman

A major bridge remains closed for the second day in a row after being targeted by Just Stop Oil protesters.

Two activists scaled the Queen Elizabeth II bridge on Monday, as Aisha Rimi reported at the time:

M25 delays as Just Stop Oil protesters climb Dartford Crossing bridge forcing closure

Tuesday 18 October 2022 10:52 , Zoe Tidman

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of what Just Stop Oil is getting up to as the M25 Dartford Crossing remains closed.