Kill the Bill protestors paid damages by police
It comes after allegations of police brutality but officers with Avon and Somerset Police say the payments are not an admission of guilt
Five people, who claimed they were victims of police brutality in Bristol, have been paid damages by Avon and Somerset Police.
It relates to a Kill the Bill protest on College Green on 23 March 2021, when a large group of protestors sat on the grass outside City Hall.
They refused to move and were eventually forced to by officers in riot gear, with footage captured showing officers pulling protestors by their hair, striking them by riot shields and hitting them with batons.
The forces denies all the allegations against it and says payment is not an admission of guilt, but does admit to reaching a settlement with the five.
The protest on March 23 came two days after another on Sunday 21 March descended into a riot outside Bridewell Police Station.
Dozens of officers were injured on that night with several police vehicles set on fire.
Since then, 23 people have been jailed for their part in the violence that night.
Two days later though the action was entirely peaceful, though clearly worried things could turn as they had done on the Sunday, the police attended wearing riot gear and in large numbers.
With Covid rules at the time meaning such gatherings were banned, the group was repeatedly told over a loud speaker to move on, before officers eventually dispersed them by force.
It was not the only occasion around that time when officers were accused of using excessive force.
That same night one journalist was briefly detained while trying to cover the protest as officers did not believe his claims of being a reporter.
Two other reporters shared footage of an officer grabbing them and threatening that force would be used against them if they did not disperse, despite the pair showing press accreditation.
The police later apologised to all three reporters concerned.