(Reuters) – Ten people were arrested on Friday in the southwestern British city of Bristol after protests over a new police bill turned violent with people throwing glass bottles and bricks at officers, inform police in a statement.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the city center, ignoring restrictions on COVID-19, to protest a government bill that would go through parliament that would give police new powers to restrict street protests.
“Ten people were arrested for offenses such as violent disorder, assault on an emergency worker and possession of Class A drugs,” said Avon and Somerset local police superintendent Mark Runacres.
“Items were thrown, including glass bottles and bricks at officers, fireworks were thrown at our assembled section, while one of our horses was also covered in paint,” Runacres added.
Last Sunday, two police officers were seriously injured and at least two police vehicles burned in Bristol after a violent peaceful protest.
“Three of those arrested were also arrested in connection with the violent riot that took place in Bristol on Sunday,” Runacres said.
The new police bill would give police new powers to impose time and noise limits on street protests, which has infuriated activists, especially since the police response to a London eve for a murder victim Sarah Everard on March 13 caused outrage and widespread criticism. the police.
A police officer has been charged with Everard’s abduction and murder, and the case has sparked an outpouring of mourning and anger over the issue of violence against women and girls.
The bill predates the Everard case and covers a wide range of policy areas, as well as surveillance of protests. However, the two connected in the minds of many people because, by chance, the bill was under debate in parliament two days after the eve of London.
Reports of Aakriti Bhalla and Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry