Injunctions against protest
Case reference FOI2025/00310
Received 13 February 2025
Published 24 April 2025
Request
(1) In the time period 1 January 2022 to 12 February 2025, has the Highways Agency applied for an injunction against a protest or protest camp? Please provide a yes/no answer.
By “injunction” I mean a court order with the intention to ban a protest or evict a protest camp.
(2) If the answer to Q1 is “yes”, please can you provide the number of injunctions you applied for, and provide a copy of the court order.
(3) In the time period 1 January 2022 to 12 February 2025, has the Highways Agency applied for a summary possession order against a protest or protest camp? Please provide a yes/no answer.
(4) If the answer to Q1 is “yes”, please can you provide the number of summary possession orders you applied for, and provide a copy of the order.
Response
1. In the time period 1 January 2022 to 12 February 2025, has the Highways Agency applied for an injunction against a protest or protest camp? Please provide a yes/no answer.
By “injunction” I mean a court order with the intention to ban a protest or evict a protest camp.
During the relevant period:
- No injunction order was obtained "against a protest camp".
- One injunction was sought in advance of anticipated protests on highways for which National Highways was responsible. A
2. If the answer to Q1 is “yes”, please can you provide the number of injunctions you applied for, and provide a copy of the court order.
Please find attached copies of the injunction orders obtained during the relevant period. Copies of the injunction orders obtained can be found on National Highways' website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/about-us/high-court-injunctions-formotorways-and-major-a-roads/
3. In the time period 1 January 2022 to 12 February 2025, has the Highways Agency applied for a summary possession order against a protest or protest camp? Please provide a yes/no answer.
Yes. Two possession orders were obtained in respect of land owned by National Highways occupied by persons who might be described as either conducting a protest or being part of a protest camp.
4. If the answer to Q1 is “yes”, please can you provide the number of summary possession orders you applied for, and provide a copy of the order.
Please see the attached for copies of the two possession orders.
Advice and assistance
Protesting on motorways and major A-roads is extremely dangerous for both the protesters and motorists. These orders are intended to dissuade people from risking lives, not to prohibit lawful protest.
Documents
This is National Highways' response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.