Police are investigating after a driver appeared to use the M4 hard shoulder to undertake a 'go-slow' convoy protesting fuel costs.
The 'Stand Up to Fuel Prices' demonstration saw traffic held up for around four hours on Monday morning by slow-moving roadblocks on both sides of the M4 Severn Bridge. Gwent Police arrested 12 drivers shortly before 11am on suspicion of breaching a legal notice not to drive under 30mph.
The force is also probing an incident which happened at around 9am that day when a silver Vauxhall Corsa appeared to move onto the westbound hard shoulder near Tormarton, South Gloucestershire, and pass one of the protest convoys. Footage shot by WalesOnline shows the driver being stopped by a police car seconds later. As he came to a halt the driver could be seen remonstrating with the officer and shouting: "Why don't you do something?"
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Gwent Police has now told WalesOnline that it was unable to complete the stop because all the officers present were required to stay with the convoy and manage the safety of the protest. But the force has confirmed the incident was seen by an officer and will be investigated.
Police arrested four people at around 8.30am and another eight at 10.45am after they allegedly breached a legal notice ordering protesters not to drive at under 30mph for a "prolonged" period. A 36-year-old man from Bristol has since been charged with organising a public procession and knowingly failing to comply with the legal notice. A 39-year-old man from South Gloucestershire and a 48-year-old man from Cardiff were cautioned for breaching the notice.
Police have released the following people under investigation:
• A 33-year-old man from South Gloucestershire
• A 44-year-old man from Bath and North East Somerset
• A 32-year-old man from Rhondda Cynon Taff
• A 45-year-old man from Neath Port Talbot
• A 46-year-old man from Neath Port Talbot
• A 20-year-old man from Cardiff
• A 41-year-old woman from Torfaen
• A 46-year-old women from Rhondda Cynon Taff
• A 20-year-old man from Rhondda Cynon Taff
You can read more about the protest here. Our coverage on fuel prices can be found here.
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