There has been considerable coverage recently about the policing of the protests outside EDO's premises.

Much of this has been critical of police tactics and our overall response to policing the protests.

Frankly, I find the criticism levelled at us unjustified.

We always police such matters neutrally. My officers understand the need to allow peaceful and reasonable protests to take place.

Unfortunately, however, some individuals attending these protests believe they should be allowed to act unlawfully and that police should stand back and take no action to prevent this.

As well as allowing reasonable protests, we also have a duty to ensure employees at EDO can go about their lawful business by going to work unimpeded and without fear of attack or harassment from individuals who appear to be hellbent on doing exactly that.

I make no excuse for saying we will continue to police such events fairly but, nonetheless, robustly by implementing the law when we need to.

People who wish to demonstrate sensibly, peacefully and within the law have nothing to fear.

Those who decide to operate outside the law, however, can expect to be fully dealt with.

It is inevitable, if violence is used by protestors, that they will, on occasions, sustain injury.

Some of my officers were injured by the actions of some protestors, which is unacceptable as they are just doing their job.

There would be no need for this if everyone accepted the rule of law.

-Superintendent Kevin Moore, Brighton and Hove Police