Bristol protests: Police action at Kill the Bill demo

Fourteen people have been arrested at a second night of protests in Bristol, police have said.

On Tuesday about 130 people demonstrating against the government's new Police and Crime Bill gathered at College Green.

It comes two days after another protest in the city turned violent, injuring several police officers.

One witness said the police had been "quite heavy-handed", which was "shocking to see".

Avon and Somerset Police said the gathering had "the making of a rave or a party rather than a protest" and that it had to act due to lockdown restrictions.

One of those arrested was in connection with the disorder on Sunday, while others were arrested for offences including breaches of Covid-19 legislation and obstruction of a highway.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said there was "no acceptability" for "criminality and thuggish behaviour".

"Protests are unlawful right now and quite frankly we have just seen more criminality and violent behaviour, which is simply unacceptable," Ms Patel said.

"We live in a democracy and obviously we uphold the right to protest but we're in the pandemic and I would urge people to continue to follow the rules and guidance."

There were between 200 and 250 people at the peak of the protest on Tuesday afternoon, which had been peaceful, with some of those intending to sleep in tents overnight.

Protesters said they were unhappy about an element of the Police and Crime Bill, which would ban residing on any private or public land in vehicles without permission where they are causing "significant disruption, distress or harm to local communities".

Journalist Martin Booth, who attended the protest for the Bristol 24/7 website, said he believed police had been "quite heavy-handed" against protesters.

"Some of them were sitting down as the police waded in and it was quite shocking to see," he said.

"These protesters may have been there against the law but they were not spoiling for any fight, from my perspective."

But, the force said, like on Sunday, it only took action after dark when people ignored instructions to leave.

Ch Supt Claire Armes said: "We will always attract opposing and differing views in these situations but we have successfully cleared the area and minimised any disruption to the city of Bristol."

Earlier, she said protesters had "insulted" Bristol's communities, who "have made too many sacrifices and worked so hard" to defeat coronavirus.

Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: "It had the making of a rave or a party rather than a protest...we would be having a very different conversation if we had allowed 200 people to set-up a camp on college green with music, food stalls, and human excrement.

"We have a duty to uphold the law and stop the risk of a third wave."

Officers from British Transport Police, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Dyfed Powys, Gloucestershire, Gwent and Wiltshire forces were drafted in to help.

In a tweet, police said officers had attempted to engage with demonstrators earlier in the evening and asked them to move on.

"It's disappointing we needed to take this action on a day we remember those who've lost their lives," the force said earlier, referring to the anniversary of the first national lockdown.

Andrew Plant, BBC Points West

It's the second time in three days that we've seen riot police on the streets of Bristol.

Sunday felt very hostile - this didn't. There were lots of things being thrown on Sunday - bottles flying over people's heads and riot police were really under attack.

This, the police had under control by going in quite hard, I think it's fair to say.

They said they've done that because these gatherings under Covid law are illegal so they felt they need to move people on.

They had asked people earlier in the day to leave and disperse and when those people didn't engage, this happened.

But it wasn't Sunday, it was very different.

The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said his colleagues in the city felt "under siege".

John Apter said: "I really feel for my colleagues in Bristol. There is a sense that you really feel under siege. And for some, whatever they [police officers] do, is not enough and for others, it's too much.

"My colleagues are battered and bruised, in some cases physically. We've got a number of officers who were injured on Sunday evening, some very seriously.

"This is completely unacceptable."

Shortly before 23:00 GMT, police said protesters had been moved off College Green but that a "significant number" remained on Deanery Road "and continue to refuse to leave the area".

The force tweeted: "Officers will take proportionate action to disperse crowds. They are not containing anyone and we continue to urge people to move on."

A YouTube livestream appearing to be from the demonstration showed large numbers of police with some officers on horseback and others with dogs lined up.

Shouts of "our streets" and "shame on you" could be heard.

Earlier on Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police released images of 10 people it wants to trace over Sunday's disorder.

It has since arrested a total of nine people in relation to that day's events and said it was investigating assaults on 40 police officers and one journalist.

Ch Supt Carolyn Belafonte said the investigation will be "substantial" and "has the potential to be one of the largest" in the force's history.

Following medical assessments on two officers taken to hospital at the weekend, neither suffered broken bones.

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