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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Emma Grimshaw

Missiles thrown as police with dogs push Kill the Bill protesters out of Haymarket

Tensions are rising between police and protesters during Bristol's third Kill the Bill demonstrations.

After a four-hour stand-off between officers and campaigners, police are moving in to clear people from outside of Bridewell police station.

Bottles and other objects have been thrown by protesters at a police wall, which was set up in Bristol's Haymarket.

Campaigners continue to chant at police 'shame on you'.

Officers have used shields to push back campaigners, and police dogs and helicopters have been deployed.

Up to 1,000 people gathered on College Green to rally against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, before marching through the city.

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Hundreds then sat down near Bridewell police station, where a police van was torched on Sunday and 40 officers were injured.

Throughout the evening, Avon and Somerset police has repeatedly urged people to go home peacefully.

A force spokesperson tweeted: "A large number of protesters remain on Lewins Mead. We continue to urge those in attendance to go home.

"All necessary and proportionate enforcement action will be taken."

Why are people marching?

People are campaigning against the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would give police and the Home Secretary increased powers to stop protests.

It also makes a special new law to protect monuments and statues, in the wake of the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, with the crime of damaging them punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Under new government proposals trespass would become a criminal offence - rather than being a civil matter - in order to tackle unauthorised encampments, giving police the power to seize vehicles and arrest people who refuse to move.

Those breaking the new law on trespass could be fined up to £2,500 and could face a prison sentence of up to three months, but concerns have been raised by both academics and organisations that the new law will disproportionately affect travellers and more widely those living on roadside camps.

Follow the latest updates in our live blog here.

More news from the protest

Police chief explains why officers let Kill the Bill march go ahead today

Police told to wear protective clothing after 'ammonia smelt'

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