Police warn of further climate change disruption
Six Extinction Rebellion activists arrested after chaining themselves to entrance of London Concrete in Bow
THE police have warned the construction sector to expect more disruption in the days ahead after members of the Extinction Rebellion group chained themselves to the entrance to London Concrete’s plant at Bow, in East London, earlier this week, preventing companies in the area from going about their business.
As part of the climate change activists five-day ‘summer uprising’ in five cities across the UK, around 50 protesters blocked the gates to the plant, which is expected to supply concrete for the £1 billion Silvertown Tunnel project that is due to start later this year.
The Metropolitan Police said six members of the protest group, which is calling on the Government to take immediate action to address what it sees as a climate emergency, were arrested at the plant on suspicion of aggravated trespass and obstruction of a highway.
Commander Jane Connors said: ‘We absolutely recognize the right for people to protest, however we will continue to take action against those who choose to break the law, to ensure disruption to Londoners is kept to a minimum.’
She warned that campaigners are expected to continue to target the construction industry this week and more disruption should be expected in the days ahead.
‘We are engaging with businesses across the capital and would urge anyone who becomes aware of protests taking place on their premises to contact the police at the earliest opportunity,’ she added.
A spokeswoman for London Concrete, part of Aggregate Industries and the capital’s largest supplier of ready-mixed concrete, said the company was cognisant of the carbon footprint of cement and concrete and was at the forefront of efforts to mitigate climate change.
