An employers’ association for independent retailers has said that the Extinction Rebellion protest which blocked the roads of newspaper printing presses mainly affected elderly and vulnerable customers.

The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) has condemned the actions of Extinction Rebellion after protesters and said that newsagents played a “critical role” in the distribution of newspapers at a time when “every sale counts”.

XR protesters targeted Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne as well as other locations in England.

In Broxbourne the movement began on Friday (September 4) at around 10pm and the protestors were not cleared until 10am the day after.

The blockages around the country meant that delivery vans were unable to leave and distribute some articles including The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times.

The association represents many independent newsagents across the UK and other home delivery distributors who were affected by the protest.

Watford Observer:

Protesters set up wooden barriers to block the road (Photo: PA)

Stuart Reddish, the national president of the association, said: “Our members up and down the country have been left without supplies of the Times, Sun Daily Mail and Telegraph, and are having to deal angry customers who are unable to get their daily newspaper.

“This also impacts massively on our home news delivery operations. Many members have reported that their newspaper deliverers have been left hanging around as their deliveries have failed to arrive.

“It also means we are unable to get newspapers to our elderly and vulnerable customers.”

He continued: “Newsagents have played a critical role during Covid-19 in getting newspapers into the hands of readers and this is not helpful at a time when every sale counts.”

The NFRN liaised with News UK and the two main news wholesalers to help recover and distribute the delayed supplies.

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Watford Observer:

Police called it the operation "complex" (Photo: PA)

Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed the names of 51 people that were charged with obstruction of the highway following the protest.

The force says 50 people have been released with strict bail conditions and must appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on November 27 – but the court date may be subject to change.

The bail restrictions include being unable to go within 100 metres of the boundary of any Newsprinters Ltd Premises and being unable to enter greater London by the boundary of the M25 or Hertfordshire up to and including September 13.

These restrictions are subject to some exemptions.

The protesters also cannot attend any further protests organised or supported by Extinction Rebellion – up to and including September 13.

Watford Observer:

Hertfordshire Constabulary says 51 people were charged (Photo: PA)

Donnachadh McCarthy, an XR spokesman at the Broxbourne demonstration, claimed only six police officers attended the protest but further footage at the protest disproves these claims.

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd said that officers were put in a “difficult and complex operation”.

Mr Lloyd said: “I have always championed free speech, of which protest is a key part, but I am very concerned that the focus of this Extinction Rebellion action has been our free press.

“This will have dismayed most reasonable people, including me. The actions went beyond legitimate protest and Hertfordshire police rightly took firm action to end this blockade.

“I was in contact with the Chief Constable during the events and understand from him that it was a difficult and complex operation which presented many challenges to our officers.

“I am pleased that following robust action and dozens of arrests access, roads were successfully cleared, and I thank our officers for their hard work in doing so.

“Clearly these are events we do not want to see repeated, and I will be talking to the Chief in the coming days about any lessons which can be learned.”

Likewise, Hertsmere MP and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden labelled the actions as “idiotic”.

He tweeted: “We must never take our free press for granted, and those who disrupt our access to it damage our democracy."