The digging of make-shift tunnels by protesters at Small Dean in Buckinghamshire in 2021 added more than £4m to the cost of HS2.

The government said: “Filled with lethal levels of carbon monoxide and dioxide, these tunnels can become death traps, not just for those inside them and members of the public, but also for those who are required to undertake rescue operations.”

An amendment to the Public Order Bill will make it a criminal offence to cause serious disruption by creating and occupying tunnels, while going equipped to create these tunnels will also be criminalised.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said: “This country will not be held to ransom by so-called activists unconcerned about putting the lives of others in danger.

“These death traps don’t just put lives at risk, they divert precious police resources away from where they are needed most.

“These measures will give our police the powers they need to crack down on this lawlessness and continue to make our streets safer.

“The current offences available are not sufficient to recognise and deal with the scale of danger and disruption caused by tunnelling. This law will empower our police and courts to take action, from arrest through to conviction, against those intent on risking lives.”