National Highways has secured a new nationwide interim injunction
to target protestors who cause disruption on any part of the
Strategic Road Network in England.
The High Court granted the interim injunction today (Monday 25
October) following an application from National Highways.
The new injunction bans activities that obstruct traffic and
prevent access to 4,300 miles of motorways and major A
roads. It also bans activities which cause damage to the
road surface and infrastructure and prohibits activists from
gluing themselves to the road or abandoning their vehicles.
Anyone who breaches this injunction faces imprisonment and/or an
unlimited fine. Activists found in contempt of court may also be
forced to repay the costs of their case.
The latest interim injunction was granted in addition to three
earlier injunctions including one covering the M25.
Transport Secretary said:
“We are making use of every avenue of existing law to try to
prevent the continued life-endangering action being carried out
by Insulate Britain, which is causing intolerable disruption to
motorists’ lives and livelihoods. This new interim injunction
will ban activities that obstruct motorways and major A roads
across the entire country.
“On top of the immediate measures we’re taking, the long term
solution lies in the changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and
Courts Bill which were set out by the Home Secretary, giving
additional powers against disruptive protests which target
critical national infrastructure. This includes unlimited fines
& prison sentences of up to 6 months for obstructing
highways.”
Duncan Smith, Acting Executive Director of Operations at
National Highways, said:
“This new injunction covering the Strategic Road Network across
the country is another step forward in helping to keep these
reckless and dangerous protests away from our network and
endangering peoples’ lives.
“We continue to serve court papers on those who have breached the
previous injunctions. People who breach the injunctions face
imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.”
National Highways has already taken out three injunctions to
prevent action along the M25, the M25 feeder roads and major
roads around the Port of Dover following dangerous disruption
caused by demonstrators from Insulate Britain.
More than 100 activists have already been served with court
papers in relation to these injunctions and may face imprisonment
and/or a fine for contempt of court if they are found to be in
breach of the orders going forward.
On Friday, National Highways made nine applications to the High
Court against protestors who had breached an existing injunction
by blocking the M25. Now an application for contempt of court has
been made, the court will decide whether the protestors breached
the injunction order.
These injunctions are a short-term solution to tackle the highly
disruptive protests we have seen over the last few weeks, and the
Government has committed to legislating to prevent these kinds of
guerrilla tactics in the long-term through the Police, Crime,
Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Notes to editors
- A further hearing is set to take place on Thursday
28th October 2021 to determine whether the
injunction will continue past that date.
