Transport for London has obtained a High Court injunction to ban Insulate Britain protesters from obstructing traffic at 14 locations around the capital.
It comes after the climate activists were accused of blocking ambulances as they sat in the middle of Old Street – a few hundred yards from Moorfields Eye Hospital.
The Extinction Rebellion offshoot group also returned to the M25 during rush hour this morning, in breach of a previous High Court order.
The latest injunction obtained by TfL applies to Hanger Lane, Vauxhall Bridge, the Hammersmith gyratory system, Blackwall Tunnel, Tower Bridge and London Bridge.
It also covers Park Lane including Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, Elephant and Castle including all entry and exit roads and the Victoria one-way system.
The order also prevents protesters from occupying the A501 ring road from Edgware Road to Old Street, Staples Corner, Chiswick roundabout, Redbridge roundabout and the Kidbrooke interchange.
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘The safety of people travelling on the capital’s roads is our number one priority.
‘We have been granted an injunction this afternoon by the High Court which bans protesters from engaging in activities that obstruct traffic at 14 locations. This will help to protect London’s road network and everybody using it.
‘We will continue to work closely with the police and other highway authorities in London to manage the impact on the road network and would encourage people to check their journeys before they travel.’
Insulate Britain is calling for all homes in Britain to be properly insulated in order to fight climate change.
The group said about 40 demonstrators were involved in blocking the junction of the M25 motorway and the A501 at Old Street roundabout at rush hour today.
It prompted long queues and emotional clashes with motorists. TfL said the injunction was granted later in the afternoon.
People who break injunctions can be found to be in contempt of court, meaning an unlimited fine or two years in prison.
But prosecutions usually take several months, meaning there is no immediate impact on the protests, and previous injunctions do not seem to have deterred activists.
The first injunction, granted to National Highways on September 21, banned the demonstrations on the M25 and was followed by an order approved on September 24 restricting protests around the Port of Dover.
A third injunction on October 2 banned protesters from obstructing traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London.
The Metropolitan Police said it arrested 16 people on suspicion of obstructing the highway at today’s motorway protest, which saw many glue themselves to the carriageway.
A total of 19 people were arrested at the Old Street roundabout demonstration, the force added.
Insulate Britain admitted its actions on the M25 were ‘in breach’ of an earlier injunction obtained by the Government.
Spokesperson Tracey Mallagan said: ‘If governments don’t act soon to reduce emissions, we face a terrifying situation.
‘We won’t be worrying about shortages of pasta or loo rolls because law and order breaks down pretty quickly when there is not enough food to go round.’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps branded members of Insulate Britain ‘glued fools’ and said he had been ‘applying actively’ for more injunctions.
He told LBC: ‘It’s dangerous, it’s really outrageous, and actually, ironically, it probably adds to pollution as cars idle, waiting for their nonsense … for them to be unglued from the road.
‘Existing laws need toughening up to get these glued fools off the road and the Home Secretary has said she will do that in the Crime and Sentencing Policing Bill that is going through Parliament.
‘In the meantime, I have been applying actively for court injunctions, which cover the national highway network around London, around the South East. Now these people can go to jail for what they’re doing.
‘I very much imagine that the courts will take very dimly of the view that they’re ignoring a court injunction. It can be unlimited fines, it can be six months in jail. We have been actively serving door-to-door individuals – over 100 have been served.
‘I think we’ll start to see the courts take a very, very dim view and lock some of these people up, it is unacceptable.
‘I can tell you that those injunctions may well have been breached and people may be going to prison as a result.’
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