LONDON (AP) – Police in the English city of Bristol say they have arrested 10 people during a third night of protest against a new police law.
Hundreds of protesters against the Police, Crime, Penalties and Courts bill made a protest sitting in front of a police station in the south west of England on Friday night, and some fought with police officers with helmets and shields tried to interrupt the meeting.
The Avon and Somerset police force said on Saturday that eggs, bottles and bricks were thrown at the police and a police horse was painted with paint.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned what he called “shameful attacks on police in Bristol”.
“Our policemen shouldn’t have to face bricks, bottles and fireworks being thrown at them by a crowd with the intention of violating and causing damage to property,” he said on Twitter. “The police and the city have my full support.”
The contentious bill, which is underway in Parliament, gives the police stronger powers to curb protests. Two other “Kill the Bill” demonstrations against legislation in Bristol this week also saw clashes. The police blamed a minority of troublemakers among peaceful protesters.
But some accused the force of a heavy-handed response and of exaggerating the scale of injuries to officials. Police initially claimed that two of them had broken bones during a protest that turned into a riot on Sunday. The force later said that no police officers had fractures, but 40 were slightly injured.
Police superintendent Mark Runacres said the officers “showed exceptional patience in the face of significant disorder” and used “reasonable force”.
Police conduct and priorities in Britain are under intense scrutiny after the death of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old Londoner who disappeared while walking home from a friend’s home on March 3. A police officer on duty was accused of murdering her.
Tensions escalated when the police interrupted a vigil in Everard’s memory because it violated the coronavirus restrictions that prevented mass meetings.