Transport For London Injunction and Slow-Marching 2023
Request ID: FOI-0816-2425 Date published: 08 July 2024
You asked
In Jun 2023 a final injunction order was agreed by the High Court against the campaign group Just Stop Oil after submissions from TfL. The injunction is designed to prevent serious disruption on the capital's roads.
The injunction claim number is KB-2022-003542 and the full injunction can be found at: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/final-injunction-order-jso-redacted.pdf
I note that section 4 of the injunction states:
Defendants and each of them are forbidden from deliberately undertaking the following activities:
a. Blocking, slowing down, obstructing or otherwise interfering with the flow of traffic onto or along or off the Roads for the purpose of protesting.
b. Blocking, slowing down, obstructing or otherwise interfering with access to or from the Roads for the purpose of protesting which has the effect of slowing down or otherwise interfering with the flow of traffic onto or along or off the Roads.
c. Causing, assisting or encouraging any other person to do any act prohibited by sub- paragraphs a-b above.
d. Continuing any act prohibited by sub-paragraphs a-c above.
e. For the avoidance of doubt, this wording does not apply to the practice of ‘slow marching’ on the road
I would like to know why TfL decided to exclude the practice of 'slow marching' from the injunction and I would like to see any internal correspondence referencing the rationale behind this specific exclusion.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0816-2425
Thank you for your request received on 11 June 2024 asking for information about our injunction against the campaign group, Just Stop Oil.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.
TfL is constantly monitoring the impact of slow march protests on our network. Currently due to police management of the march and conditions imposed, as well as our own traffic management interventions we put in place, we have not recorded any serious disruption to TfL services. Therefore we have not needed to consider it as part of the injunction and do not hold any correspondence referencing this; that assessment of the impact of slow marching may be subject to change. Please note that Orders are made by the courts.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
