Insulate Britain: Arrests as protesters glue themselves to roads

Twenty people have been arrested after Insulate Britain protesters disrupted traffic around an M25 junction with some gluing themselves to a road.

Hertfordshire Police said protesters have been at junction 23 for the A1(M) at Bignells Corner, and also on the A1081 St Albans Road.

Officers were initially called to the area at 07:45 GMT.

The group said on Twitter that 60 of its members were disrupting traffic in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Four court injunctions are in place banning Insulate Britain from obstructing major roads.

Some protesters glued themselves to an A1081 slip road and pavement, and specially-trained officers arrived to "de-bond them", the force said.

Officers said they managed to intercept the protesters before they reached the carriageway of the M25.

The force said the 20 people had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and four were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Ch Sup Nick Caveney said officers were at the scene within minutes and partial road closures were put in place "to keep traffic flowing, meaning that disruption was kept to a minimum".

"Not only is purposely blocking a highway incredibly dangerous, it also affects countless members of the public who are inconvenienced as a result," he said.

"We understand how frustrating incidents of this nature are to the public, and want to reassure you that we have robust plans in place in order to minimise any disruption and to allow us to make arrests as quickly as we possibly can."

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