(Reuters) – Ten people were arrested in the southwestern city of Bristol on Friday after protests against a new policing bill that became violent, with people throwing glass bottles and bricks at police officers, he said. the police in a statement.
Thousands of protesters converged on the city center, ignoring the restrictions of COVID-19, to protest a government bill that is passing through parliament that would give the police new powers to restrict street protests.
“Ten people were arrested for crimes, including violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of Class A drugs,” said Mark Runacres, superintendent of local Avon and Somerset police.
“Items, including glass bottles and bricks were thrown at the officers, fireworks were launched in our assembled section, while one of our horses was also covered with paint,” added Runacres.
Last Sunday, two policemen were seriously injured and at least two police vehicles were set on fire in Bristol after a peaceful protest that turned violent.
“Three of the prisoners were also arrested in connection with the violent disorder that occurred in Bristol on Sunday,” said Runacres.
The new policing bill would give the police new powers to impose time and noise limits on street protests, which has angered activists, especially since a violent police response to a London vigil by murder victim Sarah Everard in 13 March caused outrage and widespread criticism of the police.
A police officer was charged with Everard’s kidnapping and murder, and the case sparked a wave of pain and anger over the issue of violence against women and girls.
The bill predates the Everard case and covers a wide range of political areas, as well as the policing of protests. However, the two connected in the minds of many people because, by coincidence, the project was under debate in parliament two days after the London vigil.
Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla and Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry