A mob has broken into a police station and set alight police vehicles in Bristol as protests turned ugly.
Protests turned into riots in Bristol as crowds gathered to oppose the Police and Crime Bill. The Bill would give the police the ability to control protests in ways that had not thus far been permitted. Under the Bill, the police would be able to impose start and finishing times upon protests, set the noise limits on protests and apply these laws to individual protestors.
Unattended police van set on fire in Bristol.
We need a return to law and order in this country. pic.twitter.com/i2RXrmvK59
— Turning Point UK 🇬🇧 (@TPointUK) March 21, 2021
The Bill comes in response to the Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019, which saw large swathes of central London shut down by protestors.
“Kill the Bill” protestors were seen in balaclavas breaking into a police station, vandalising a police van and shooting off fireworks.
Not impressed with the British police at all. Yesterday I saw them threatening pensioners with cautions while ignoring groups of hooligans.
Today we see the police do nothing while Bristol police station is attacked by Antifa.
The police need to start doing their job. pic.twitter.com/wVOgGWhyOE
— Jack Ross (@JackHFRoss) March 21, 2021
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said:
“Officers are continuing to deal with a smaller number of protesters in Bridewell Street.
“They’ve had projectiles thrown at them, including a firework, and have been verbally abused.
“This is unacceptable behaviour and those responsible for offences will be identified and brought to justice.”
The BBC has reported that police officers have suffered broken bones because of the protests.
These protests come after widespread condemnation of the handling of the vigil in honour of Sarah Everard, which saw police acting with a heavy-handed approach towards participants.
The scenes in Bristol are reminiscent of the Antifa-infiltrated Black Lives Matter protests that took place in cities across the United States last summer. Protests in Portland and Seattle also saw police stations attacked with similar vigour.
