‘Distressing’ Cathedral hits out at police protest tactics
BRISTOL Cathedral has criticised police over actions which left Kill the Bill protesters with “no way of leaving” as people were being “punched and kicked” by officers.
The cathedral has released a newsletter raising concerns over policing tactics during Bristol’s second Kill the Bill event on March 23 at College Green.
The newsletter said: “College Green should be a place of safety and sanctuary for all. It is clear that on the night of March 23 this was not the case.”
Hundreds of riot police moved in on a camp which had pitched up on the land, forcibly pulling up sitting protesters and dragging one man back through police lines by his hair, the Post website Bristol Live reported at the time.
Witnesses spoke of seeing individuals punched, kicked and forced to the ground using riot shields, the bulletin reports.
Police arrested 14 people suspected of refusing to disperse, breaching coronavirus lockdown laws and obstruction, during the demonstration against the proposed Police and Crime Bill, which would curb rights to peaceful protest.
The force says it received four formally recorded complaints over its policing of the event, which were all reviewed by its professional standards department and “no conduct issues were identified”.
In the letter, Bristol Cathedral said: “The use and management of College Green has been a longstanding issue for the Dean and Chapter, as we seek to ensure that land we own, made available to the people of Bristol and managed by Bristol City Council, remains an asset for the whole community and a safe space for all.
“The Dean [Dr Mandy Ford] and the Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough met with around 60 people in an event on June 13 facilitated by David Mowat, a Quaker activist.
“They heard several testimonies from people about their experiences on March 23 at the gathering to protest about the impact of the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill on those in the traveller and van dwelling community.
“The testimony of those who had been present on March 23 was extremely distressing. They repeatedly stressed that it had been a peaceful protest and that at no time was any violence done to the police or property.
“They described being herded and kettled by the police; being ordered to move on, but with no way of leaving the area. The speed of the attempted dispersal was such that people were confused by what was expected of them, frightened, and unable to collect their belongings safely.
“Witnesses spoke of seeing individuals punched, kicked and forced to the ground using riot shields. It was clear that those who had been there were, and remain, deeply traumatised by their experiences and by what they witnessed. Many were in tears and visibly distressed by recounting the events of that evening.”
Avon and Somerset police deny the tactic of “kettling” – containing a crowd by refusing to let them leave a limited area – was used.
The newsletter notes the witnesses’ testimony is supported by a report earlier this month from an all-party Parliamentary group which found Avon & Somerset police handling of Kill the Bill events in March breached “fundamental rights” to protest.
The Parliamentary inquiry found the force wrongly applied lockdown laws, used “excessive force against peaceful protesters”, failed to provide “transparency” over how rules would be enforced, and failed to properly assess “the proportionality of their actions”.
It said some actions by officers “may amount to criminal offences” a finding the force “utterly rejects”.
The protest came two days after a Kill the Bill protest turned into a riot outside Bridewell Police Station and police vehicles was set on fire.
Dr Ford and Dr Gainsborough, who is chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol, shared a joint statement.
They said: “College Green has a long history as a place of peaceful gathering for the people of Bristol. Since the 19th century it has been a public amenity, providing a place where families and friends can gather. It has also become a valuable location for peaceful protest for the people of Bristol.
“College Green should be a place of safety and sanctuary for all. It is clear that on the night of March 23 this was not the case.
“We confirm our commitment to promoting the rights of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, who have been the subject of discrimination over many years, not only at a personal level but at an institutional level.
“We condemn such discrimination unreservedly and note that aspects of the Police bill increase the likelihood of discrimination against these groups and will make it almost impossible to live a travelling life in England in the future.
“We are extremely grateful to those
College Green should be a place of safety and sanctuary for all. It is clear that on the night of March 23 this was not the case
Dean Dr Mandy Ford and the Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough
who were willing to share their testimony with us, at great cost.
“We commit ourselves to continuing the discussion and to working with all stakeholders, including the police, to maintain peace and safety on College Green.”
The bill passed through the Commons last week and will next be considered in the Lords. Controversial elements include police chiefs being able to set noise limits on protests and imposing start and finish times. Protesters have also accused the proposed legislation of risking Traveller and Gypsy lifestyles by criminalising many trespass offences.