Just Stop Oil activists have been dragged along the road by the police for the first time since they began blockading traffic with “slow marches”.

Four contingents of the environmental group took to major arterial routes in London on Wednesday morning in their latest attempt to force ministers to cancel all new oil and gas licences.

But it backfired as the Metropolitan Police took their toughest stance yet since the “slow marches” began before Christmas.

An officer was filmed hauling a protester along the tarmac, spread-eagle and clinging onto his orange banner, closely resembling the harsher crackdowns deployed against eco-groups by Dutch and German police. 

Many said on Twitter that it was “about time” and “finally the police are doing something”.

However, they were not immediately arrested. The Met Police has been given strengthened powers in law by ministers to remove eco protesters from the road, which have seen more arrests in recent weeks.

The police officer’s dragging of the activist, on Cromwell Road, an A road in west London, comes after months of criticism that the Met has told off members of the public for doing the same.