Kill the Bill protests: Seven arrests in Bristol's fifth demo

Avon and Somerset Police said seven people were arrested after failing to disperse from about 00:00

Seven people were arrested for failing to disperse after Bristol's fifth Kill the Bill protest in less than a fortnight.

About 1,500 people took part in a demonstration from College Green to the city centre on Saturday afternoon.

Later, about 100 people blocked an entrance to the M32 at about 21:30 BST, before returning to the city centre.

Avon and Somerset Police implemented a dispersal order at about 00:00 after "minor disorder between protesters".

Supt Mark Runacres said "an increasing number of protesters" in Bristol had worked with police liaison officers to ensure the main events on Saturday remained peaceful.

He said the "relatively small group" of people who marched to the M32 had caused "significant disruption".

Police said it was safer to let the protest "run its course" in Bristol city centre

Supt Runacres said dispersing protesters on the motorway would have "presented an unacceptable risk" and "the safest thing to do was to allow the protest to run its course" in the city centre.

He added: "At around midnight there were several altercations between the small number of people who remained in the city centre.

"We never tolerate violence and so we made the decision to move people on.

"It's disappointing that once again there were those who refused to listen to our requests to leave, and that we had to make arrests."

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Thousands of protesters also turned out at Kill the Bill protests in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Weymouth and Bournemouth, amongst other places.

In London, police arrested 107 people for offences including breach of the peace, violent disorder, assault on police and breaches of Covid legislation.

One woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon after a knife was found.

The Metropolitan Police said the vast majority of people socially distanced and left the rally peacefully.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give police in England and Wales more powers to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those which are deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Anyone refusing to follow police directions about a protest could be fined up to £2,500.

About 100 people briefly blocked the M32 at about 21:30 and then returned to Bristol city centre

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed crowds in London's Parliament Square and said the Police and Crime Bill was a "very dangerous, slippery slope".

The force said 10 officers had been injured in the capital, although "none of these are believed to be serious".