Protesters have written ‘All Cops Are B******s’ over a war memorial dedicated to heroes who fought in the Battle of Britain.
The writing is believed to have been scribbled on the memorial during anti-police protests in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard. The monument itself was erected in 2005 to commemorate those who fought in the Battle of Britain.
A statue of Sir Winston Churchill was also vandalised by those attending the event. Not for the first time, he was dubbed a ‘racist’ by protestors.
These two incidents follow three days of protest after Ms Everard was found dead in Kent. Further controversy was generated when a police officer was arrested on suspicion of murder. Protests, particularly those in London, have seen outbreaks of violence. Yesterday, police were pelted with glass bottles and rocks. This occurred whilst they were attempting to marshal the protest along the Thames, towards Scotland Yard.
Demonstrators also vented their frustration at a new Conservative Bill being discussed in Parliament. The law, if passed, would crack down on protests and give police greater powers to restrict demonstrations. The Bill has been criticised by both conservatives and liberals, who are concerned over its impact on freedom of speech.
Helena Edwards, who was a good friend of Ms Everard, was unhappy with the political response to her friend’s death, saying: “This is not what Sarah would have wanted. My friend’s tragic death has been hijacked. It is not a tribute to her any more, it’s about something else – and I don’t like what it has become.”
Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, is currently in custody; he is charged with the murder of Ms Everard. He is due to enter a plea in July, with a provisional trial date of 25 October 2021.
