Two police officers were seriously injured while vehicles
were razed by protesters who took to the streets in the United Kingdom to
demonstrate against the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill
Thousands of protesters had converged on Bristol city centre
to protest against the bill which has passed its second reading.
Some activists had criticised the bill, describing it as
“draconian” and “an assault on the freedoms of speech and protest”.
The bill will give the police power to impose time and noise
limits on street protests.
Demonstrators could be fined up to £2,500, under the
proposal, if they refused to comply, including a 10-year mandatory sentence for
vandalising statues.
The bill is also said to criminalise trespassing and
roadside camps targeted against Roma, Gypsy, and traveller communities.
The UK government had said the proposed legislation would
allow the police to take a “more proactive approach” to managing “highly
disruptive” protests deemed to cause a public disturbance.
Some of the protesters were armed with placards that read
“Kill the Bill”; “The Day Democracy Became Dictatorship”; “We Can’t Be Silenced
That Easy”; Say no to UK police state”; “Freedom to protest is fundamental to
democracy”.
They were said to have climbed into a police station, threw
fireworks into the crowd and daubed graffiti on walls.
Avon and Somerset police, the local force, said the
demonstration began peacefully but was later turned into “a violent disorder by
a small minority”.
The police said one officer suffered a broken arm, another
suffered broken ribs while others were “subjected to violence and verbal
abuse”.
Two police vehicles were reportedly set ablaze and the
police station was vandalised.
The police said the perpetrators will be identified and
brought to justice.
“All those involved in this criminal behaviour will be
identified and brought to justice, “Will White, Avon and Somerset’s chief
superintendent, said.
“There will be significant consequences for behaviour such
as this.”
Priti Patel, home secretary and advocate of the bill, said
the violent protests were “unacceptable”.
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