Kill the Bill Brighton: Dozens march through busy city

People from across Brighton and Hove gathered at The Level to protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill at 2pm.

Those taking part held homemade banners and placards, while others joined in chants aimed against government ministers.

The controversial bill looks to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage of less than £5,000 to a memorial from three months to ten years’ imprisonment, the same maximum sentence for non-sexual child abuse.

It would also grant police additional powers to restrict protests by imposing start and finish times and setting noise limits.

• READ MORE >> RECAP: Kill the Bill protesters march through Brighton

These limitations could be applied to a protest involving a single person.

The weekend's protest follows weeks of action, which has seen support shrink since the first protest last month, where thousands were estimated to have taken part.

As the group of protesters made their way around the city, one passerby told The Argus around "150 people" took part.

She said: "The protest seemed much smaller than in previous weeks but those present still seemed determined to voice their message."

Reaching Churchill Square, protesters attempted to "storm" the shopping centre but were quickly stopped by liaison officers, who followed the group along their march.

Dozens of people marched through Brighton. Credit @thekinaton

A similar scene occurred shortly after at Brighton Palace Pier, where officers from Sussex Police formed a line to stop demonstrators from accessing the building.

Protesters disbursed from the pier around 4.30pm - two and a half hours after it started.

The march caused some travel disruption in the city, as Brighton and Hove Buses warned customers ahead of the march to expect "delays".

A spokesman on Twitter said: "Customers should expect delays across all services this afternoon.

"This is due to heavy traffic across the city and the scheduled protest in the city centre.

"Please keep checking here for updates."

According to the coronavirus guidance issued by the government, protests can go ahead “where the organiser has taken the required precautions, including the completion of a risk assessment.”

Before the rule change, organisers of gatherings involving more than 30 people faced £10,000 fines.

Elsewhere in London, eight police officers were njured as anti-lockdown protests in central London turned violent.

Demonstrators hurled bottles as officers attempted to disperse the crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.

Photographs posted on social media showed a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head, while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.

Two officers were taken to hospital, although their injuries are not believed to be serious, the Met said.