Activists block roads around oil terminals in Birmingham and Thurrock as police called in
Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion activists have blocked roads near a number of "key" oil terminals in a protest against the use of fossil fuels.
Police have confirmed they are dealing with incidents in Birmingham and Thurrock and officers have arrested 13 people at one of the protests in Essex.
A group called Just Stop Oil said it had blocked seven oil terminals near London, Birmingham and Southampton early this morning (1 April).
Protesters are calling on the government to stop any expansion of UK oil and gas production, saying: “ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil."
The group tweeted: “Fed up with a government burning your future – join us on the road."
Police said they were responding to activists at a site in Tyburn, Birmingham.
West Midlands Police tweeted: “We are working to deal with this as quickly as possible.”
It added that delays were expected on Wood Lane, Bromford Lane and Tyburn Road.
West Midlands Fire Service said its crews were also in attendance at the incident on Tyburn Road.
Those travelling were asked to “avoid the area if possible”.
Where else are the Just Stop Oil protests happening?
Inter Terminals UK, Grays, Essex
– Navigator Terminals Thames, Grays, Essex
– Buncefield Oil Depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
– Esso Birmingham Fuel Terminal, Birmingham, West Midlands
– Esso West London Terminal near Heathrow Airport, west London
– BP’s Hamble Oil Terminal, Southampton, Hampshire
– ExxonMobil’s Hythe Terminal, Southampton, Hampshire
– Esso’s Purfleet Fuels Terminal, Purfleet, Essex
– Kingsbury Oil Terminal, Kingsbury, Warwickshire
– BP Oil Depot, Kingsbury, Warwickshire
Essex Police confirmed officers have been called to three incidents in Thurrock this morning and 13 people have been arrested.
The force said they were arrested on suspicion of obstruction of the highway, including a 28-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man from Norwich, a 19-year-old man from Cambridge and an 18-year-old woman from Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds.
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan said: "We are working to minimise the disruption at Navigator Fuel Distribution Centre, Askew Farm Lane, and at a depot in London Road, Purfleet.
"I am pleased to say that we’ve worked quickly to arrest 13 people so far for the disruption this morning and that officers were quick to respond to any reports of further incidents across Thurrock."
Exxon Mobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, confirmed demonstrations were under way at some of its sites.
A spokesperson tweeted: "Small protests are currently underway outside our Hythe, Birmingham and West London fuel terminals.
"While we respect the right to peaceful protest, our priority is the safety of our people, our neighbours, the protestors and our operations. We are working with the police to ensure that safety is maintained."
Demonstrations are expected across the country in the coming days as the biggest jump in domestic energy bills in living memory comes into effect.
The People’s Assembly has said it expects thousands of protesters will take to the streets tomorrow at locations throughout the UK to highlight those suffering “real hardships” due to the combination of rising fuel and food prices, inflation, and low pay.