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Scuffles in London as thousands join 'kill the bill' rallies across Britain
(Reuters, 3 Apr 2021) Climate protests by Extinction Rebellion, which paralysed parts of London in 2019, fuelled calls from some politicians for police to get more powers to prevent such disruption.
Thousands of demonstrators joined rallies across Britain on Saturday against a proposed law that would give police extra powers to curb protests, with some scuffles breaking out following a march in London.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill aims to toughen measures officers can take to disperse demonstrations, such as imposing time and noise limits, which campaigners and activists fear would be used to curb dissent.
"Kill the bill" marches were held in dozens of towns and cities, supported by big campaign groups such as climate change campaigners Extinction Rebellion and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Nearly all passed off peacefully but there were minor clashes in central London between protesters and police following a rally attended by several thousand people.
London's Metropolitan Police, which deployed a large number of officers in the capital to bring the protest to an end, said there had been 26 arrests and 10 officers were injured, although none seriously.
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Reuters, 3 Apr 2021: Scuffles in London as thousands join 'kill the bill' rallies across Britain
