What the police said:
A FORCE spokeswoman said: “Throughout the significant protests in Bristol in March 2021, we engaged extensively with our partner agencies and stakeholders in Bristol to keep them fully informed on the policing response and to give further detail around the necessary and proportionate action taken by officers.
“Following the comments made in the Dean of Bristol’s summer newsletter, Bristol Commander Supt Mark Runacres (pictured) will arrange a further meeting with the Dean to explain the tactical decisions taken on the night of March 23, to explain why they were taken, and to reassure the Dean that as with any significant policing operation, a full debrief is being carried out to identify any learnings.”
Avon and Somerset said they “strongly refute” the findings of the all-party Parliamentary group.
“During the period the report covers, the law was not sufficiently clear as to whether peaceful protest was lawful under Covid-19 regulations and all forces were interpreting them as best as they were able to,” said a force spokeswoman.
“We reject any suggestion we did not facilitate peaceful demonstrations on the day of the riot and for subsequent protests. We made repeated attempts to engage with organisers before each event and in the majority of cases, no-one identified themselves as being in that role.
“When the events took place, on each occasion protestors were provided with ample opportunity to make their voices heard before officers gave clear directions for them to disperse.
“We absolutely recognised their right to peaceful protest but we had to balance the significant risk to public health, taking into consideration the regulations in place at the time, and the rights of the wider public to go about their daily lives without disruption.
“The report recognises officers faced real violence and hostility and put themselves on the line to keep people safe.
“It also recognises that throughout March 2021 officers were justified in using proportionate force to protect themselves and the public and restore order.
“It can never be acceptable for officers and staff to be assaulted during the course of their duties when their over-riding intention is to protect public safety.
“Concerns around disproportionate or excessive force relating to the use of shield strikes have been fully investigated by our Professional Standards Department (PSD) and we’re confident officers acted appropriately and utterly reject the report’s suggestion that this use of force ‘may amount to criminal offences’.
“Material, including footage, relating to these complaints was sent to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and they were informed of the outcome of our PSD assessment.
“The use of shield strikes is a College of Policing approved tactic for public order policing including in situations where officers’ shields are being grabbed or pulled.”