Five charged after anti-lockdown protest in Bristol
Chief Constable Andy Marsh has called the protestors a "disgrace" and labelled some "plain stupid"
Four men and one woman have been charged with offences including participating in a gathering of more than two people and failing to comply with the directions of officers, after an anti-lockdown protest in Bristol on Saturday (14/11).
Around 400 people took part in the Stand Up Bristol demonstration, which broke current coronavirus rules.
Police had warned organisers multiple times the event wasn’t allowed and of the risks it presented of increasing the spread of COVID-19.
Thirteen people were arrested throughout the day.
On top of the five charged, four men have been released on conditional bail, three men have been released under investigation to allow further enquiries to take place while another man has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “I am proud of the way that my officers responded to this protest.
“In the face of violence and intimidation they conducted themselves with restraint, courage and professionalism.
"They are the best of us."
Chief Constable Marsh went on to call the protestors a disgrace, "from the criminally misguided to the plain stupid".
“Whilst the majority of our communities do their best to support each other through the COVID-19 pandemic, and our NHS and other essential workers make sacrifices to keep our society going and save lives, these selfish idiots are an embarrassment to Bristol.”
As part of the continuing investigation, officers are reviewing a large amount of digital evidence including CCTV, body worn camera footage and other recordings of the event.