Police to ‘strike a balance’ between allowing peaceful protest and disruption during Extinction Rebellion action
Police say they will “strike a balance” between the need to allow a peaceful protest and the disruption it causes during next week’s action by Extinction Rebellion Cambridge Youth and Rebel for Justice.
The group is planning a protest in the city from Sunday, February 16 to Saturday, February 22 that will involve road blocks preventing access by all vehicles to the city centre via Trumpington Road and The Fen Causeway.
The protestors have said they will set up a base at the roundabout on Trumpington Road intersecting with Fen Causeway and hold satellite protests across the city throughout the week. The action will not affect pedestrians or cyclists they say.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is working with Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways department and local transport providers on ways to mitigate any disruption which could see road closures and diversions put in place.
Police say they will be providing regular updates via their social media challenge: @CambridgeCops on Twitter and @Cambridgecity.police on Facebook. You can also follow @Cambs_Traffic.
City centre businesses, colleges and other organisations close to the blockade have been advised so they can make appropriate contingency measures.
Speaking about the policing response to the protest, Superintendent James Sutherland said: “We review all reports of protest both spontaneous and planned.
“We have to strike a balance between the need to allow peaceful protest within the city and the disruption that the protest itself causes.
“Whilst the protests are likely to cause disruption, we will work with both the city and county councils to mitigate this and the level of disruption caused by protests will be constantly reviewed throughout the week.”
Read more:
Climate activists plan 24/7 road block in Cambridge city centre for half term
Extinction Rebellion Cambridge Youth’s week-long action will block Fen Causeway
