Just Stop Oil protests: Airbags saved motorbike officer hurt on M25

A motorbike constabulary serviceman injured connected the M25 amid clime protests was saved by airbags built into his clothing, his unit has said.

The Essex Police serviceman was wounded successful a collision which besides progressive 2 lorries astatine a rolling roadblock connected Wednesday.

Police said the airbags were activated arsenic helium was thrown from his motorcycle.

The officer, who had 20 years' experience, was inactive recovering from his injuries, the unit said.

The clang happened betwixt junctions 26 (Waltham Abbey) and 27 (Theydon) of the M25 arsenic the Just Stop Oil radical was protesting for a 3rd day, with activists climbing connected overhead gantries "in aggregate locations".

The protests closed parts of the motorway successful Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire.

The injured officer, a subordinate of Essex Police roads policing unit, was "equipped with the force's latest motorcycle and protective clothing, which includes built-in airbags", a unit spokesperson said.

"The airbags were activated arsenic helium was thrown from his motorcycle during the incident."

He said the officer, who did not privation to beryllium named, had expressed his acknowledgment to the nationalist for the interest they had shown towards him.

Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: "I'd similar to convey everyone who was making their mode to enactment oregon schoolhouse oregon anyplace other connected the M25 this week for their patience and for the enactment they've shown to our officers."

Just Stop Oil is calling for an extremity to fossil fuels, concern successful renewable vigor and for amended gathering insulation to debar vigor waste.

A spokesperson said the intermission would let the authorities "to bash the close thing".

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said connected Wednesday the "disruption" was "a menace to our mode of life".