Just Stop Oil protestors found guilty of traffic disruption

On the 18th of July 2024, five Just Stop Oil protestors were found guilty of traffic disruption when they organised a protest as they climbed the gantries over the M25 motorway for four days. In doing this they brought cars to a standstill causing much delay along with health and safety for everyone involved.

Just Stop Oil, founded on 14 February 2022 by Roger Hallam, is a climate activist organisation. Their goal is ‘‘to end fossil fuels before they end us.’ No more “phasing down,” no false solutions, no more lies and misinformation.’

The members involved were Roger Hallam (founder), 58, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, Daniel Shaw, 38, Louise Lancaster, 58, and Cressida Gethin, 22.

Credit to Sky News 

The M25 protests occurred in November 2022 and were found guilty at Southwark Crown Court. Hallam was sentenced to five years in prison and the other four received four-year jail terms.

Credit to X

Credit to X

These protests, which took place shut down sections of the motorway in Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Hertfordshire, causing 51,000 hours of driver delays. This led to an economic cost of around £765,000 and a cost to the metropolitan police of more than £1.1 million.

The disruption affected many people with missed flights, medical appointments, and exams as well as two lorries colliding.

According to the London Assembly, between 2022 and 2023, 735 Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested over 12 months.

Credit to The Guardian 

Speaking to Mark Hopkins, Environmental Officer at Birmingham City University, he said “I think from their perspective they would argue that there is method in their disruption and campaigning has worked, especially when it comes to climate change.

“About 10 years ago, teenage Greta Thunberg went on strike from her school and positioned herself outside of the government building in Stockholm, and demanded that the Swedish government does more to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and the effect it was having on the environment. So there is evidence to suggest that disrupting does create awareness about sustainability and does create action.”

He continued, “But my concern about Just Stop Oil is that they are not encouraging sustainable behaviour. They are creating a bit of a culture war and discouraging sustainability. If I tied myself up to the Vice Chancellor’s office and didn’t let him into his office until he reduced all our emissions, he’s not going to listen to me.

“The way I like to try and make people more sustainable is by connecting sustainability to their lives and interests. If I wanted to convince someone who doesn’t care about climate change to reduce their energy consumption and emissions at home, I would say “Turn your light switch off and you’ll reduce your effect on the planet.”

“And that can save you money. So we’re connecting sustainability to the cost of living crisis.”