The Police said 107 people were arrested in London on Saturday as demonstrations were held across England against plans to increase police powers.
Thousands of people marched in towns and cities in protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.
Those detained were held for a variety of reasons including breach of the peace, violent disorder, assault on police, and breaches of COVID-19 legislation.
The proposed legislation would give police in England and Wales more powers to impose conditions on non-violent protests – including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.
Throughout Saturday, police dealt with what they said were “peaceful” Kill the Bill protests in areas including London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool and Dorset.
Commander Ade Adelekan, who led the policing operation for the protest, said most people worked with and listened to police officers.
“However, as the afternoon wore on it became clear that a small number of people were intent on remaining to cause disruption to law-abiding Londoners,” he said.
“Despite repeated instructions from officers to leave, they did not and, amid increasing levels of disorder, arrests were made.
“We should not allow the behaviour of a few individuals who attend these events with the purpose of committing criminal acts to taint the good behaviour of the majority who attended yesterday.”
Superintendent Mark Runacres said: “At around midnight there were several altercations between the small number of people who remained in the city centre. We never tolerate violence and so we made the decision to move people on.
“It’s disappointing that once again there were those who refused to listen to our requests to leave and that we had to make arrests.”
Dorset Police thanked those who took part in “peaceful protests” in Bournemouth and Weymouth and stuck to the Covid-19 restrictions.
William Roache (Analysis Editor Newspresslive )
