I write in response to Simon Williams' concerns (Letters, April 2) about a demonstration outside Sainsbury's in London Road, Brighton, last weekend.

He was passing and, at the point at which he passed, the demonstrators were, in his words, "peaceful and good-humoured".

However, had Mr Williams been inside Sainsbury's just after 3pm, he would have been confronted by a group of more than 40 people who were causing damage and significant concern to shoppers.

The most important tenet in the democratic society we police is that people are allowed to protest peacefully.

That means they do not block roads, which Saturday's protestors were doing, and they let other people carry out their lawful business.

At one stage, protestors were blocking the entrance to Sainsbury's so people could not enter.

The police respond in a proportionate way to protests and officers were quickly stood down during the afternoon as the numbers of protestors diminished.

I respect the right to protest and it is important people are able to demonstrate about issues but they do need to take other people into consideration and not break the law.

-Peter Coll, Superintendent, Brighton and Hove Division, Sussex Police