Officers attacked, vehicles razed as UK protest against police bill turns violent

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”.

Unacceptable scenes in Bristol tonight.

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Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated.

Our police officers put themselves in harms way to protect us all.

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My thoughts this evening are with those police officers injured.

— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) March 21, 2021

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