Seven people have been arrested after 20 officers were injured at a Bristol protest against the government’s proposed policing bill, which police claimed was “hijacked by extremists”.
“Many more” will be detained in the coming hours and days as officers examine a large amount of CCTV footage from Sunday night, said Avon and Somerset’s police and crime commissioner.
Thousands gathered across England over the weekend to oppose the legislation, labelled “draconian” by hundreds of legal scholars who fear the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill amounts to “an alarming extension of state control over legal assembly”.
But a “small minority” of demonstrators in Bristol were roundly condemned after footage showed them attacking a police station, setting two police vehicles alight and damaging 10 more, and clashing with officers – two of whom were hospitalised with broken bones.
Workers from Bristol Waste spent the morning removing broken glass, debris and offensive graffiti from the streets.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said the violence had made people already dealing with inequality in the city less safe and questioned whether the perpetrators were from Bristol or were “protest tourists”.
He said: “Smashing buildings in our city centre, vandalising vehicles, attacking our police will do nothing to lessen the likelihood of the bill going through.
“On the contrary, the lawlessness on show will be used as evidence and promote the need for the bill.
“This is a shameful day in an incredible year for Bristol. These people should feel shame.”
Sue Mountstevens, Avon and Somerset’s police and crime commissioner, said the behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.
She said: “It’s disgraceful these men and women who started their days expecting a normal day of policing have all returned battered and bruised.
“These people have shown reckless disregard of the lives and safety of our communities in central Bristol and our officers.
“Whether you agree or disagree with the bill, these men and women did not deserve to face the level of violence directed at them. Nothing can justify such actions.”
