POLICE have issued a statement following the "Kill the Bill" protest in Brighton today.
Approximately 1,000 people took to the streets to march in protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill.
The legislation, which was debated in parliament this week, would give police greater powers to restrict "non-violent" protests.
READ MORE: Hundreds march through Brighton in 'Kill the Bill' protest
Masked demonstrators gathered at the Level at about 2pm with placards, where speeches were heard before the crowd set off through the city.
Video footage shows hundreds marching through the centre of Brighton chanting "We will not be silenced".
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police officers attended a protest at the Level, Brighton, on Saturday and used the 'four Es' approach to engage with those present in relation to the government's coronavirus regulations.
"When the protest moved into a march, officers continued to engage throughout while ensuring the safety of those present and keeping disruption to the city centre to a minimum.
"Those attending dispersed after it finished at Hove Lawns."
Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: "We had limited information about the protest beforehand and no prior engagement with the organisers.
"However we maintained a presence throughout the protest and continued to engage with those present to mitigate any risks posed to public health.
"We still remain in a global pandemic and there are rules and regulations in place to protect our communities and help prevent the spread of the virus."
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