In Bristol, the Avon and Somerset police urged demonstrators to move on after the 2nd day of protest this week broke out in the city.
After the violent demonstrations, protesters have once again gathered in Bristol.
On Mar 21, after a police vehicle was set on fire and over a dozen officers were injured, there were hopes that tensions may simmer over the next few days.
However, demonstrations flared up on the night of March 24, with protesters unhappy with Traveller’s rights unfairly encroached on by the planned Police and Crime Bill, the Mirror reported.
The police —wearing riot gears— are asking protesters to leave the area due to Covid regulations and confirmed that three arrests have been made.
The police force also indicated in tweets that it is bringing the demonstration to an end, and is still “ongoing”.
The force tweeted:
“Specially trained public order officers are beginning to disperse a protest from College Green in #Bristol.”
“Officers had engaged with protestors & asked them to move on but tents & a sound system were set up.”
“We remain in lockdown and we cannot allow this gathering to continue.”
“Chief Superintendent Claire Armes earlier said that “all necessary and proportionate enforcement action will be taken”.
On Tuesday night, specially trained officers were deployed on to College Green where 130 people had gathered earlier, police said.
In a striking photo, the crowd is seen kneeling in the street, facing off against a line of police officers.
The Daily Mail reported that two female protesters spoke of how they were sat on the green when police came in with force.
“They just came at us and gave us no warning whatsoever,” the protester said. “I shouted to one ‘what are you doing and he hit me in the face. He hit my friend too and made her nose bleed. Nasty, nasty people.”
The protester added that police allegedly wrenched tents away from people as they forced them back.
Despite rising tensions, it appears to have been no physical confrontations between protesters and police, unlike the Sunday protest.
The demonstration is the latest “Kill the Bill” protest in Bristol against the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed new powers to handle demonstrations.
Avon and Somerset Police said officers had attempted to engage with demonstrators, who are currently not allowed to gather due to Covid regulation, and asked them to move on.