Policing of #KillTheBill protests
Police Admit Officers Did Not Suffer Broken Bones In Bristol ‘Kill The Bill’ Protest - HuffPost
Chief Supt Will White claimed at the time:
“Officers have been subjected to considerable levels of abuse and violence. One suffered a broken arm and another suffered broken ribs. Both have been taken to hospital.”
But, on Wednesday, Avon and Somerset Police admitted neither officer had been found to have suffered broken bones.
In a statement, the force said it was investigating assaults on 40 officers and one member of the media.:
“Thankfully following a full medical assessment of the two officers taken to hospital, neither were found to have suffered confirmed broken bones.”
Police Disregard for the role and protections of Legal Observers
Three legal observers at 'Kill the Bill' demonstration lodge assault complaints against Greater Manchester Police - The Meteor
Independent legal observers are trained to document arrests and how a demonstration is being policed. They also provide basic information to protestors on their legal rights to protest.
Netpol says legal observers have reported increased targeting by police in recent weeks while monitoring police actions against protestors.
“Greater Manchester Police has shown escalating levels of violence and aggression at Kill the Bill protests and must immediately step back from their confrontational approach. We have been deeply concerned to receive reports from campaigners and legal observers in Manchester of the Tactical Aid Unit attacking demonstrators and now… three legal observers who have lodged complaints with the police.”
UNHRC reminder of the rights of legal observers
BREAKING
— Liberty (@libertyhq) May 28, 2021
The Metropolitan Police has dropped fines given to @blkprotestlegal Legal Observers unlawfully arrested at #KillTheBill protests.
Met said: “we accept [LOs] have an important role to play in providing independent scrutiny of protests and the policing of protests". https://t.co/OavNGz6zRJ
Armed Police deployed to protect property
No Collar numbers
Police under fire for 'assault' of journalist at Bristol protest - Guardian
Police 'injured 62' people in the first three 'Kill the Bill' protests
The Bristol Defendant Solidarity group say that a combination of medical reports, witness statements from legal observers and from people ‘self-reporting’ their own injuries, the group said 62 people were injured in total.
PROTESTERS INJURED
62 injured by police violence
7 people were badly injured enough to go to the hospital,
22 had head injuries
Injury breakdown - kind on attack
21, 23 & 36th March (1st three ‘Kill The Bill’ protests)
20 hit by batons
11 hit by shields
13 hit by shields and batons
3 kicked, punched or physically assaulted by police
7 bitten by police dogs
12 suffered from the effects of police PAVA ‘pepper’ spray
5 were injured ‘in ways that are unclear’.
POLICE INJURED
Sunday 21st March -Bridewell police station and then to disperse around 1,000 protesters from the Haymarket, Bond Street and the Horsefair:
5 assaulted and injured
18 assaulted but uninjured
Tuesday 23rd March - College Green anti trespass camp
None injured or assault
Friday 26th March: Haymarket
1 injured but not by being assaulted - damaged his hand on the cage inside a police van