M25 protests: Met arrests three over 'orchestration'

Three people suspected of orchestrating a protest that caused disruption on the M25 have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.

They are a man, 55, from Walworth in London, a woman, 56, from Milton Keynes and a man, 49, from Torquay.

It comes after Insulate Britain activists stopped traffic on the motorway twice this week in their campaign for action on home insulation.

The government said it was offering support for energy efficiency measures.

The demonstrators stopped thousands of motorists at four junctions just after 08:00 BST on Wednesday.

It follows similar action on Monday when five junctions were blocked and 77 arrests made.

The Metropolitan Police said they held 14 people at junction 25 for obstructing the public highway following another 17 they say were involved in Monday's protest.

Deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said the activists' actions went "beyond the parameters of reasonable exercise of protest rights and disproportionately impacts the rights of others to go about their daily business".

"It is our view that this behaviour is unsafe and irresponsible, creating risk for themselves, other road users and officers," he said.

Three other police forces also made arrests as demonstrators targeted other sections of the UK's busiest motorway on Wednesday.

There were long delays at junctions 1a and 1b for Dartford, Kent; eight for Reigate and nine for Leatherhead, Surrey; and 23 for South Mimms in Hertfordshire.

Protesters blocked roundabouts and the motorway itself, while some glued themselves to the road surface.

Surrey Police said of the 33 arrests the force made, 12 were released under investigation and 21 were released on conditional bail.

Kent Police previously said officers detained 21 people and Hertfordshire Police made 18 arrests.

Announcing Wednesday's action, Insulate Britain said 89 of its members were taking part saying "sitting in the road makes Boris Johnson sit up and take notice".

It wants the government to make "a meaningful commitment to insulate Britain's 29 million leaky homes".

In response to Monday's protests, a government spokeswoman said it was "investing £1.3bn this year alone to support people to install energy efficiency measures, and our upcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy will set out how we decarbonise the nation's homes in a way that is fair, practical and affordable".

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