'Unforgiveable' Police accused of acting like 'hired thugs' at protest

AVON and Somerset Police’s professional standards department is reviewing a series of complaints into its policing of an anti-migrant rally at the weekend.

- Angus MCINTYRE

A councillor has alleged she was thrown to the floor by police acting like ‘hired thugs’ during protests in Bristol over the bank holiday weekend.

Lisa Stone, who represents Windmill Hill for the Green Party, said she could easily have suffered a serious injury in the incident during the migration protests and counter protests which took place in the city on Saturday.

“I was very disappointed with the way the police handled the protest, they should have protected the public and not thrown their weight around acting like hired thugs,” she said. “I was literally picked up and thrown to the ground, (and) could have easily smashed my head on the road.

“This was uncalled for, if the police thought to manage the situation in a responsible way they would have escorted them back into the park, then allowed them to leave in peace.”

Cllr Stone is one of four Green councillors to allege heavy-handed treatment on the part of police, including physical violence.

Lorraine Francis was on the anti-racist march and said: “I was appalled at the tactics deployed by police. Who briefed the officers? This is unforgiveable”