Gloucestershire PCC soothes fears over violent protests in county
Martin Surl has condemned the riots in Bristol on Sunday
Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner says people "shouldn't panic" that protests in the county will turn violent.
Martin Surl has condemned the riots in Bristol on Sunday calling them "absolute thuggery".
It's after peaceful demonstrations protesting the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill erupted into violence.
21 police officers were injured during the incident on Sunday and 8 people have now been arrested.
During the Police and Crime Commissioner panel today (Tuesday), Gloucestershire Constabulary say they are preparing for protests to take place in the county this summer.
Martin Surl, Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner said:
"I think at the moment that if we have a long, hot summer combined with the frustration of the lockdown, as well as people who have understandable and not very understandable views, that these are all the ingredients which could boil over into violence.
"What we saw in Bristol was absolute thuggery and is inexcusable in any circumstance but here in Gloucestershire we shouldn't panic.
"I think our officers are well trained and we certainly here maintain a sufficient level of public order resource either to use for ourselves or deploy elsewhere".
During the panel, ACC Rhiannon Kirk, from Gloucestershire Police confirmed "there was no intelligence" that violent protests were coming to Gloucestershire.
She reassured the panel that officers plan and practise for incidents like that and the force will always try to work with organisers of peaceful protests to ensure they can carry them out.
What is the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill?
It's a piece of legislation which includes major Government proposals on crime and justice in England and Wales.
One part of it covers changes to protests which is what people are currently demonstrating against.
If the legislation is passed, it could give police extra powers to impose a start and finish time, set noise limits and apply these rules to a demonstration held by just one person.
Martin Surl added:
"I do think police have sufficient powers already, probably not sufficient resources but sufficient powers.
"I fear that trying to curtail legitimate, non-violent public protest is probably a step too far.
"We have to have laws that apply to all circumstances and not to a select few".