National Highways has filed nine contempt of court applications against the High Court regarding Insulate Britain activists who, during their protests, blocked the M25 in dangerous ways.
The court will have to decide if members the environmental campaign group broke orders made earlier in the month.
If found guilty of violating the law, protestors could face jail time and fines.
Insulate Britain today warned families on half-term holidays that they will reopen their road blockade protests next Wednesday.
In response to the Net Zero Government reports, the group declared it would ‘rise against tyranny’. It said that the Net Zero reports ‘completely fail’ to meet the current challenges.
Insulate Britain had previously said on October 14 that it was pausing its protests – which have brought misery to motorists across London – until Monday, October 25.
Insulate Britain activists were removed last month from an M25 roundabout near Heathrow
Mother who drove her car through activists labels them terrorists
Sherrilyn Speid, 34
A mother who ran over Insulate Britain activists with her Range Rover this past week has been called a terrorist because she claimed that the women she hit feigned their ‘ow-ow’ cries.
Sherrilyn Speid (34), of Purfleet in Essex was charged with ‘attempted murder’ after she drove her car into protesters at Junction 31 of M25 near Thurrock.
Footage – shot by another person at protest – showed Ms Speid getting out of her Range Rover and confronting the protesters after she was stopped while bringing her son, 11 years old, to school.
She stated that she was utterly fuming at the men who were blocking my path to take my son to school. How dare they do that?
National Highways spokeswoman said: “National Highways is now taking Insulate Britain’s first activist group to court for violating injunctions by blocking access to the M25.
“We will continue to cooperate with the police in bringing those who engaged in dangerous and disruptive acts to justice.
“Activists who violate the law will be issued a summons by the court. They could face imprisonment and/or a maximum fine.
“Timings are currently in the court’s hands, but we expect hearings to take place as soon possible.”
National Highways confirmed nine committal requests have been made to High Court.
Insulate Britain members were previously subjected to three other injunctions from National Highways. These injunctions banned demonstrations on M25, around Port of Dover, or on major roads around London.
On Tuesday, a judge at the Royal Courts of Justice extended an injunction granted to Transport for London (TfL) against Insulate Britain.
TfL was granted the civil banning order to prevent protestors from blocking traffic on some of the capital’s busiest roads.
According to court documents from an earlier hearing 112 people were served with court orders relating to Insulate Britain protests.
Hundreds of protesters have been arrested for blocking motorway junctions, roundabouts, and roundabouts since September 13. They ran onto the road when the lights turn red to blockade the roads.
To make maximum impact, they have targeted protests at rush hour traffic. Motorists then take it upon themselves to remove them from the roads when police arrive too slow.
Insulate Britain declared today that they will protest the Government’s Net Zero reports.
A spokesperson said that Insulate Britain had reviewed the British Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy and Net Zero Strategy and the Cost of Net Zero Report.
“We concluded that while these would have been a great first step 30 years back, they are completely inadequate to meet the current challenges.
We need a wartime-style national effort, not a plan for crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.
“Insulate Britain will continue our campaign for nonviolent civil resistance.”
Insulate Britain is an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion and claimed that the Government’s plan to decarbonise their homes failed on almost every count.
It said the £450million allocated to grants for heat pumps will help only 30,000 households a year, which is a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared with the 900,000 a year required by the Climate Change Committee by 2028.
A spokesperson said that ‘our ancestors waged a civil war against such tyranny on these islands and gave their lives to gain the rights and freedoms that we now enjoy as citizens.
“Today, it is our responsibility to stand up against tyranny. This is what we owe to our ancestors, our fellow citizens, and those who come after us in this great chain of life.
A High Court judge extended Tuesday’s injunction against Insulate Britain protesters blocking roads through London.
The order, which was granted to London’s transport system earlier this month, was intended to stop actvists obstructing traffic on some of the capital’s busiest roads.
Three additional injunctions were issued to National Highways by the protest group, prohibiting demonstrations on the M25, Port of Dover, and major roads around London.
Insulate Britain members were allowed to address the court on Tuesday during the hearing.
Police remove Insulate Britain activists who block junction 31 on the M25 on October 31
Despite their campaign being temporarily suspended, they repeatedly displayed their contempt for the injunctions through disobeying them or burning paper copies.
A court order violation can lead to a contempt charge, which, if proven, could result in up to two year imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Lavender, the judge, stated that the injunction had been extended until a trial was held in the case, or until a further court order is issued, or until April 8, next year.
Dr Diana Warner, a member of the group, stated that National Highways should lower motorway speed limits to 10 mph when Insulate Britain protests along a carriageway.