Climate activists overstepped the mark by glueing themselves to the floor, says Met police chief

A Met police chief has said climate activists overstepped the mark by glueing themselves to the floor during a fortnight of protests.

Campaigners assembled across London as part of Impossible Rebellion, a series of protests by the group Extinction Rebellion and related environmental campaign groups.

Specialist removal teams from the Metropolitan Police Service have worked over the past two weeks to remove 133 people locked on or glued to structures, and there have been almost 500 arrests.

Activists from boroughs including Lambeth, Wandsworth and Lewisham joined campaigners calling for more action to combat climate change.

Today @XRWandsworth were outside the @bankofengland demanding the bank stop funding fossil fuels immediately and #ActNow to save the planet. #StopTheHarm #ClimateEmergency @fossilfreeLDN @Cop26P @FossilFreeSWK @FallFossils @XRLondon @XRLambeth pic.twitter.com/DoyGpFPnJS

— XR Wandsworth ⏳ (@XRWandsworth) September 2, 2021

Matt Twist, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, said:”Two weeks ago, Extinction Rebellion started fresh action in London. Like everyone else, they have the right to protest and assemble together.

“But this right must be balanced with the rights of others. Those wanting to go about their lawful business unimpeded and without disruption.

“Whatever the cause, activists do not have the right to cause unreasonable and serious disruption to London’s communities.

“In the past two weeks, we’ve seen activists overstep this. They’ve blocked traffic on two of London’s busiest bridges, defaced iconic landmarks and disrupted critical road junctions.

“Commuters’ journeys have been delayed, businesses had deliveries cancelled and the owners of landmarks have faced costly repairs.

“This action is unfair, unreasonable and unlawful. To worsen matters, activists frustrate our response by setting up complex structures or by gluing and locking onto devices.

“We’ve fulfilled our duty by facilitating these protests, but where protesters have taken direct action and broken the law our response has been firm and, at times, direct.

“This work takes time and has demanded thousands of officers each day to respond effectively. These are officers taken elsewhere from London. The impact of XR’s protracted action on London communities should not be underestimated.

“Every time several officers are needed to arrest a single activist, these are officers diverted from our number one priority, bearing down on violence.

“We are highly resilient but it is frustrating that communities are denied their officers in order to deal with a very protracted protest.

“Of course, we empathise with those passionate about addressing climate change. But, police must remain impartial and uphold the law, without fear or favour.

“We must also be alive to those Londoners who are likely sick of this protracted disruption, particularly as the capital continues the economic and social recovery as a result of the devastating pandemic.”

Photography credit Lottie Kilraine