Petrol stations fuel shortage: Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion protest and block oil depots

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Britain is in the grips of another fuel crisis with one in three petrol stations in the south forced to shut after climate activists caused days of disruption at oil terminals. 

Around 1,200 pumps south of the midlands have been forced to turn away motorists, the Campaign for Fair Fuel has claimed, in the wake of the action by Just Stop Oil.

The eco protestors have been targeting oil terminals across the south of the country, including in Hertfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire this morning by locking themselves to pipes.

The action has been blamed for shortages of both petrol and diesel at stations compounding misery for drivers already facing record prices at the pump, reported at over £2 a litre in some areas.

Mass protests have seen over 800 arrests across the country and put a ‘real strain’ on local police services with over 50 more arrests expected today. 

The protests are exacerbating existing supply issues due to increased demand after Covid lockdowns and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Frustrated drivers have blasted the eco activists for causing ‘misery’ to the lives of ordinary people who need to work and have no alternative but to use their cars. 

Police today also slammed the criminals for putting lives at risk with their ‘exceptionally dangerous’ climate stunts as one force has spent over £1m on policing the protests.

The action at oil terminals is taking place at the same time as climate protests in London, led by Extinction Rebellion, shut down two major bridges in the city. 

Vauxhall Bridge is currently occupied by a number of protestors, equipped with banners, drums and flags, despite being a key crossing point for access to St Thomas’ Hospital.

A small group has also gathered around Vauxhall roundabout, blocking cars and buses from passing through the area, with a number of activists having earlier been removed from Lambeth Bridge after occupying it for several hours.

Metropolitan Police confirmed this evening that seven arrests have been made in connection with the protests in central London.

Overnight, Just Stop Oil supporters claim they dug a tunnel by concealing its efforts with a caravan under a key tanker route to the BP Kingsbury Terminal in Warwickshire.

Despite a number of police arrests, Just Oil claim, five people remain inside the caravan this morning working on the tunnel. 

Reverend Tim Hughes, 71 a retired priest from Swindon, who is with the tunnellers, said: ‘I’m here because our government is useless, they make a lot of noise but they are doing nothing. 

‘As a priest I have a duty of care for people, and also for creation. 

‘What I’m doing here, with everyone in this caravan, is what our government should be doing – that is trying to protect our families and our loved ones from the appalling future that stands before us. 

‘I hope we can continue what we’re doing and stop the flow of oil, if the government won’t.’

At around 2:30am today, 40 people approached the gates of the Buncefield oil terminal in Hertfordshire and locked on, blocking the entrance. 

And at 6:30am, the Grays Inter Terminal in Thurrock was swarmed by 40 people who climbed the loading bay pipework and locked themselves in. 

Essex police – who have made 338 arrests in seven days – say they are currently dealing with 26 people at the site and say other sites are operational. 

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: ‘We cannot stand by while criminal acts are being committed, and lives are being put at risk, in the name of protest. 

‘Today’s protest is exceptionally dangerous due to where the protestors have located themselves within the site.’ 

‘Our officers have been diligent in ensuring that all protesters know the risks involved, and we’ve been working hard to minimise the dangers this morning.

‘Put simply: we don’t want anyone to get hurt.’

He added: ‘We’ve been lucky to have extra support from specialist officers from across the country, to support some of our officers continuing with their day jobs.’

The force is working with organisations including Thurrock Council, the East of England Ambulance Service, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service plus the local fuel companies to try over the protests while also having to deal with local crime.

Warwickshire Police said that a further 29 arrests have been made this weekend in connection with ongoing protests at Kingsbury Oil Terminal.

Those in custody have been arrested for offences including criminal damage, conspiracy to cause criminal damage and conspiracy to commit public nuisance in what Assistant Chief Constable Ben Smith described as ‘another busy weekend’ for the force.

This takes the total number of arrests to 180 since the protests began on April 1.

Mr Smith, who said there would be a heightened police presence at the site over the coming days, added: ‘This weekend’s protest activity has been contained to the Piccadilly Way area and has caused little disruption to the wider community, or to the operations of the oil terminal.

‘While we will always recognise and respect the public’s right to peaceful protest, we will take action against anyone who breaks the law or causes significant impact on the local community.’

He thanked the public for their ongoing patience and said the force is working to minimise disruption to the local community and the road networks.

The BP station in Ely, Cambridgeshire was closed and the Tesco petrol station also in Ely had long queues before they finally ran out on Sunday morning. 

Earlier in the week, the action has cost Essex police £1m, a senior officer has said. 

He called on fuel firms to bring in private security while forecourts start to close after running dry. 

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet said Essex Police is working closely with fuel distribution companies and strongly encouraging them to reinforce their security plans at each site.

He said the ‘commitment’ of officers ‘has allowed us to maintain a 24/7 presence in the area throughout the last week’.

‘This has not eliminated the disruption but has kept it to a minimum,’ he said. ‘Fuel transportation has continued and there is no need for any panic buying.

‘This has put a real strain on the force.

‘One of the things I’m focused on is what more the fuel companies can do to protect their infrastructure, perhaps using private security.

‘If those measures are put in place, policing can deal with these incidents quicker and further reduce the disruption being caused.

‘We know the people of Essex would prefer officers to be able to focus on the job of stopping crime and arresting criminals and to be perfectly honest, so do I.

‘To be clear, we are not in any way anti-protest; there is a right to protest but there is no right to commit crime.’

It is expected that this morning’s actions will continue to significantly impact on fuel availability at petrol pumps across the South East and the Midlands.

It comes as the AA yesterday pleaded with drivers to fill up their cars as normal and to avoid rushing to petrol stations – even if they see that their local garages are closed on social media. 

Drivers in Cornwall, Newport Wales, Essex and Hertfordshire have all reported having difficulties filling up their tanks today. 

Kiel wrote on Twitter that the ‘world won’t stop using’ petrol because people are ‘chaining themselves’ in a ‘stupid move’.

Nicholas Till also urged in ‘sending in the army’ to address the issues with petrol up and down the country. 

Ash said he totally understood the climate emergency but getting to work was going to be difficult, especially for people already struggling. 

Baz said: ‘When will the government crackdown on this as it’s causing misery for normal people trying to get to work.’ 

It comes as working Britons face a hike in National Insurance, and soaring food and energy prices as Boris Johnson admitted families face ‘tough times’ and will have to ‘choose’ where to cut back spending.  

It comes as UK motorists continue to suffer at the pumps with petrol prices hitting record levels in recent weeks after Brent crude oil hit a high of $128 (£98) last month.

This comes as the cost of diesel and petrol increased at pumps with some garages charging over £2/litre.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak tried to mitigate the effects of price rises as he last month begged petrol stations to pass on a 5p fuel duty cut at the pumps that he delivered in his Spring Statement.

Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco were among the major supermarkets to confirm they would pass on the cut in prices, with a 6p decrease in petrol and diesel.

This however represents only a fraction in the price rises seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February. 

The 5p cut in fuel duty was blasted by UK motoring groups as a ‘drop in the ocean’ for hard-pressed drivers as pump prices continue to hit record levels.

The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) has said issues in Russia and the protests will not ‘stop fuels getting to the users who need it’. 

A UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) spokesperson said: ‘Fuel supplies underpin the economy and it is important that any protest does not stop fuels getting to the users who need it, especially the emergency services and other critical workers.

‘The UK’s oil products are sourced from a diverse range of suppliers including the UK’s own refineries and imports from across the globe. 

‘The restrictions on Russian owned, controlled, chartered and operated vessels are understood by fuel importers, and companies that have previously used such vessels are implementing contingency plans such as using alternatives to ensure products continue to be available.’

Extinction Rebellion have also promised two weeks of rebellion in London as they want to bring carnage to the capital and create more roadblocks than ever. 

Kicking off their demonstration in Hyde Park, XR has also started blocking off major roads nearby. It promises its civil resistance and full disobedience will be felt across the city from midday. 

Thousands of Extinction Rebellion protesters including an Olympic gold medallist staged a sit-down protest in Oxford Street and Regent Street, yesterday, blocking traffic in the heart of London’s shopping district to call for no new investment in fossil fuels.

The eco-protestors sat down across Oxford Circus and the famous high streets it connects, chanting ‘save our planet’ and ‘whose streets, our streets’.