People have taken to the streets of Bristol city centre again today in protest of the Protest and Crime Bill.

What is happening?

At least 300 people continue to march through Bristol in the third protest this week, challenging the police’s new Protest and Crime Bill.

Police officers are in attendance and are monitoring the situation.

Today’s march started at 4 pm and has proceeded through Colston Street, to College Green through to Park Street.

According to Avon and Somerset Police, specialist resources, including horses and dogs have been deployed.

Protestors have marched through the streets chanting “Our Streets”.

A number of streets have been partially shut down. First Bus has also stopped all services into the city centre.

A spokesperson for First Bus tweeted: “Upon Police request, all services are now withdrawn from Broadmead and Centre – Services are now on the diversion routes advertised on our web page.”

Flowers lay by a tree with a sign saying “Power to the people” in memory of Sarah Everard. Image courtesy of Sanjana Idnani.

The protestors are currently doing a sit-in at Union Gate.

People are now in Union Gate, Union street doing a sit-in at X. Image Curtesy of Sanjana Idnani.

Why are people protesting?

People in Bristol are protesting again in Bristol against the Government Police and Crime Bill despite gatherings of any kind being banned under the Coronavirus lockdown legislation.

The Bill also makes a special new law to protect monuments and statues, in the wake of the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, with the crime of damaging them punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Under new government proposals, trespass would become a criminal offence, rather than being a civil matter, in order to tackle unauthorised encampments, giving police the power to seize vehicles and arrest people who refuse to move.

Those breaking the new law on trespass could be fined up to £2,500 and could face a prison sentence of up to three months, but concerns have been raised by both academics and organisations that the new law will disproportionately affect travellers and more widely those living on roadside camps.

What was the aftermath of the previous protests?

The first demonstrations on Sunday saw thousands of people gather with the march turning violent and ending in a riot. Dozens of people officers were injured, Bridgewell police station being damaged and police vehicles set on fire.

The police have, however, retracted the statement that said two officers had bones broken during the incident.

The protests on Tuesday saw 130 people gather at College Green with 14 people arrested.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh for Avon and Somerset Police said the gathering had “the making of a rave or a party rather than a protest” and that the police had to act due to lockdown restrictions.

In an interview with the BBC Constable Marsh says they will be “arresting people as soon as they can” and there is up to “400 people that they want to talk too” and people should be “concerned that we [the police] are coming looking for them”.

 

Shawna Healey 

@Discoshawna

Images and videos courtesy of Sanjana Idnani.

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