A frustrated driver was seen pushing a mob of Just Stop Oil protesters down a London street as their slow march caused havoc during rush hour. Footage of the man showed him tapping them with his vehicle as they paraded down Marylebone Road. A furious pedestrian was also seen grabbing their banners before slapping a protester around the head.
Met Police have been slammed for failing to intervene in the protests over the last seven weeks, with members of the public wanting to take matters “into their own hands”.
But officers did intervene in the protests on Tuesday evening after it was deemed to be causing a “serious obstruction”.
Officers warned protesters that they would be arrested if they failed to clear the streets, but they fought back claiming they have “protest rights”.
The protesters were eventually forced to disperse after police imposed Section 12 conditions.
The group have called on the Government to halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects.
38 protestors in two groups targeted the evening rush hour as they targeted streets in London for a seventh week in a row.
The groups began marching along Marylebone Road and at the Aldwych around 4.30pm today.
Police say officers responded to the protest within five minutes and imposed section 12 conditions, which aim to prevent disorder, criminal damage or disruption. No arrests were made.
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Met Police last week urged the public to wait for officers to deal with the demonstrations.
But officers did intervene when it became clear roads would become congested.
Videos show an officer warning demonstrators that they needed to disperse after their march obstructed traffic.
She said: “My officers will come in, they’ll give you a warning, and if you do not leave you will be arrested. My officers will give you the opportunity to leave the road before you get arrested.”
Separate footage also showed protesters arguing with the same officers as they claimed they had “protest rights”.
“You’re not allowed to protest for the rest of the day,” she told the JSO member. He hit back, alleging that they were allowed to demonstrate unless doing so “caused a serious obstruction”.
She said: “It may have caused a serious obstruction further down.”
“Did you collect any evidence before making that call?” he questioned. She responded: “I collected enough evidence to see that you may have caused a serious obstruction, yes,” she answered, citing how “several” busses and cars were backed up.
