Eco-yobs who block motorways and other roads face 12 months behind bars from tomorrow

ECO-YOBS who block highways and inflict misery on the public face 12 months behind bars from tomorrow.

The new Public Order Act, which received royal approval today, will give cops power to stop activists ruining major sports and cultural events.

And eco-zealots who glue themselves to buildings or objects face unlimited fines and six months behind bars.

Police will also be able to stop activists wreaking havoc on the public in advance by searching them for items like padlocks, superglue and digging tools.

The major crackdown comes after groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have swallowed up £14.5m of police resources.

With protestors sitting on highways, gluing themselves to gantries, smashing windows and shutting down sporting events, forces have had to leave communities to deal with the damage.

Last month a Just Stop Oil yob defaced a World Championships snooker table at the Crucible with orange powder in one of the sport’s biggest ever security breaches.

In an idiotic stunt, the individual jumped onto the table and chucked some powder that covered its green surface, forcing the session to be instantly halted.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “The public shouldn’t have their daily lives ruined by so called ‘eco-warriors’ causing disruption and wasting millions of pounds of taxpayer money.

“The selfish minority must not be allowed to get away with this. We are giving our police and courts the tools they need to stop this chaos and I back them in making full use of these powers.”

Trending In The News has revealed Just Stop Oil activists are plotting a summer of sporting chaos as they ramp up their action.

Their campaign of direct action will include:

1. ANOTHER protest at snooker’s World Championship, the FA Cup Final, the Ashes and Wimbledon;

2. A BID to block the Dartford Crossing and other bridges;

3. PLANS to clog London’s police stations with arrested protesters and even to stage a vandalism attack on the Houses of Parliament.