Are Bristol’s ‘kill the bill’ protesters being made examples of by the state?

The charge of riot is rarely used against protesters in the UK. Yet following the ‘kill the bill’ demonstrations in Bristol, dozens of people have so far been charged with riot, and the police and Crown Prosecution Service say that they are not finished yet with bringing people to justice.

It is highly unusual that so many people are being charged with riot – which has a maximum custodial sentence of ten years. So are Bristol’s ‘kill the bill’ protesters being made examples of by the state? And has there been political interference?

Those jailed for offences committed during Bristol’s ‘kill the bill’ riot on March 21 2021 have been imprisoned for a combined total of 74 years and nine months.

As the dust continues to settle after the protests – with some of the glass at the main entrance to Bridewell police station still cracked 16 months later – we have to go back to the 1980s to see as many riot charges against demonstrators.

Home secretary Priti Patel is known to have spoken in no uncertain terms to former Avon & Somerset constabulary chief constable Andy Marsh after his officers did not intervene when the statue of Edward Colston was pulled from its plinth and thrown into the docks on June 7 2020.

Elected officials should be unable to interfere with Britain’s independent judicial system, but there is likely to have also been some political meddling following the ‘kill the bill’ protests.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees was even part of the decision-making process to clear the March 23 2021 demonstration from College Green, which saw dozens of riot police forcibly break up a peaceful protest, with some officers trampling on top of flowers and candles which had been left in memory of Sarah Everard.

There were accusations of “revenge policing” during the protests after March 21, including when dozens of riot police cleared peaceful protesters from College Green two days later – photo: Martin Booth

Remember that letter from the so-called ‘city leaders group’ in the wake of the protests? It said that those involved in the violent events “do not speak for Bristol”, with signatories saying that they have “complete confidence in the approach taken by Avon & Somerset Police”.

A Freedom of Information request later revealed that the ‘city leaders’ were not as independent as first thought, with the head of the mayor’s office among City Hall bosses cc’ed into correspondence about the wording of the letter.

An independent report published in July 2021 said that there were “significant failings” by the police during the ‘kill the bill’ protests, which “may amount to criminal offences”.

Geraint Davies MP, the chair of the all party parliamentary group on democracy and the constitution, criticised the police, saying that “they massively overreacted at the time and were found out after they misled the press and tried to mislead our inquiry”.

Davies also questioned whether the number of riot charges is “seeking to punish people in an excessive and disproportionate way, not just for protesting but for challenging the police”.

Yet after his report was published, there was silence from the ‘city leaders’ and most of our city’s politicians. Despite the allegations of illegality from the police, there was no widespread condemnation.

Avon & Somerset Constabulary “strongly refute” some of the report’s findings, in particular saying that officers’ use of the base of their shields to strike protesters is a College of Policing approved tactic for public order policing.

To their credit, following the bishop of Bristol, Vivienne Faull, being one of the signatories of the open letter expressing “complete confidence” in the police, other Bristol Cathedral leaders released a damning statement criticising the police’s handling of the protest on College Green.

Cathedral dean, Dr Mandy Ford, and chapter reverend canon, Dr Martin Gainsborough, described hearing “extremely distressing” witness testimonies of individuals being “punched, kicked and forced to the ground using riot shields” during a peaceful gathering on College Green on March 23.

They also heard demonstrators were “herded and kettled by the police; being ordered to move on, but with no way of leaving the area”.

I was with protesters on Deanery Road after the police had pushed them back from College Green and stayed with around a dozen or so while they sat in the middle of the road close to the Three Tuns pub.

After hours of nothing happening, soon after 1am on the morning of March 24 2021, police began picking out individual demonstrators, first of all talking to them before arresting them and pulling them away if they refused to leave.

The riot police line on foot – taking up the full width of the road – then moved forward, before the last few remaining protesters and members of the media were forced to turn and run towards Jacob’s Wells Road as police horses were deployed along St George’s Road.

(I was also personally picked out; pounced on by at least half a dozen police in full riot gear as I had my back turned and was walking home down Anchor Road. When I told one officer that I was a journalist, he said he did not believe me and claimed that I had been chanting. I received an apology a few days’ later from the police for being detained.)

It was later that same day when Avon & Somerset chief constable, Andy Marsh, said that police tactics had changed after protesters had “escalated the situation”. But checking back through my photographs and video footage, at the exact time he said this happened, protesters were sat peacefully on the ground.

In a press release sent after the first ‘kill the bill’ protest, police also said that officers suffered broken bones and one had a punctured lung. This was found not to be true, with superintendent Mark Runacres, the Bristol area commander, admitting that his force was too slow to correct the false claim which was quickly reported as fact.

“The clarification came later than we could have done,” Runacres told the Guardian. “We could have been on to that quicker. I understand the issue that has created around mistrust for some.”

He added: “It’s very unfortunate that misinformation was provided. It was not done to intentionally mislead people.”

Superintendent Mark Runacres said that claims officers had bones broken at ‘kill the bill’ protests were “hugely regrettable” – photo: Martin Booth

Protesters and first-aiders claimed that police officers used their shields as weapons to injure dozens of people during ‘kill the bill’ protests.

Speaking to Pat Hart on the BCfm One Love Breakfast show, Runacres justified these actions as “an absolutely legitimate and trained tactic that officers are coached on in their public order training”.

“In terms of that tactic, it may look unsightly and shocking to some, but in terms of the reality of public order policing, and policing disorder, it’s a legitimate tactic that an officer can use, if it’s necessary to move someone away from an area, if they are a threat, or to keep themselves safe.

“That might be unpleasant for some, but it’s difficult for me because I can’t sit here and criticise officers for doing something that they’ve been trained to do. It is scary. I feel uncomfortable saying this, but that’s how it’s supposed to be, when we are dealing with public order policing, part of the way you want to operate is when you are in that mode.”

By law, any use of force should be “reasonable” in the circumstances. Reasonable in these circumstances means that force should be absolutely necessary, and that the amount of force used must also be reasonable and proportionate, otherwise, according to the College of Policing (of which former Avon & Somerset chief constable Andy Marsh is CEO), “it is likely that the use of force will be excessive and unlawful”.

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Read more: Independent report on Bristol violence says police may have acted illegally

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No charges will be brought against any police, but 19 demonstrators have now been been jailed for a combined total of 74 years and nine months for their parts in the ‘kill the bill’ protests.

The most recent person to be sent to prison for their role in the events of March 2021 was 24-year-old Charly Pitman of Brislington, who was found guilty of riot following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Pitman was sentenced to three years in prison, with jurors at her trial hearing that she was at the front of the crowd outside Bridewell police station, striking police officers’ shields and helmets.

On sentencing Pitman, judge Julian Lambert said that she made a conscious decision not to leave the riot and encouraged others to attack police officers, adding that jurors decided quickly there was “no basis for self-defence” as Pitman had claimed during the trial.

Police and protesters outside Bridewell police station on March 21 2021 – photo: Martin Booth

Before Pitman was jailed, an Avon & Somerset police spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “We remain in the middle of one of the largest investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, after police vehicles were damaged and set alight, officers were assaulted and our neighbourhood police station was vandalised during a riot in Bristol city centre on Sunday 21 March, 2021.

“Evidence has been meticulously gathered, reviewed and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions to be made. To date, the CPS has authorised charges to be brought against 47 people. One of these charges was later withdrawn for medical reasons.

“A total of 18 people have now been jailed as part of the ongoing investigation – of which 15 either admitted or were found guilty of a riot charge following a trial. Those sentenced have been given a combined total of almost more than 71 years in prison.

“As legal proceedings are ongoing, we will not be commenting further to protect the integrity of the court hearings and ensure each and every defendant receives a fair trial.”

Watch 30 minutes of footage as the ‘kill the bill’ protest in Bristol on March 21 2021 turned violent:

In a statement emailed to Bristol24/7, a CPS spokesperson said: “The CPS is independent and makes its charging decisions fairly, impartially and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This is a public document that sets out the general principles that prosecutors must follow when making decisions about a case.

“Each case is considered on its own facts and its own merits. When deciding whether to authorise charges, prosecutors must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and that it is in the public interest to do so.

“Prosecutors have a continuing duty to review cases as they develop, taking account of any new information or evidence that becomes available.”

“As legal proceedings are ongoing, we will not be commenting further to protect the integrity of the court hearings and ensure each and every defendant receives a fair trial.”

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Read more: ‘Anyone who says protests are counterproductive is expressing their own preferences’

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Following Pitman’s sentencing, Bristol Anti Repression Campaign (BARC) said that she was sentenced for “simply standing her ground near the front of the crowd, in the face of a police line in full riot gear”.

Made up of a number of defendants and their supporters, BARC is an organisation that supports those who took to the streets to resist the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill.

“The use of these riot charges is a way for the state to clamp down on those brave enough to stand against police violence and repression,” according to BARC.

BARC said that the evidence against Pitman “amounted to a few kicks towards officers, and throwing a small object. Video played in court by the defence clearly shows that – at the time when Charly fought back – the police were using extreme violence against the crowd, bringing their riot shields up above their heads and thrusting them down at protesters (in a practice known as blading), kicking demonstrators while they were on the floor, and striking people on the head with long batons.

“The jury in Charly’s case took just over an hour to come back. They couldn’t have properly discussed the evidence in Charly’s case in that time. The jury was majority white and middle-aged. On the day of the verdict one jury member came to court in a Union Jack t-shirt.

“Charly’s defence barrister said that Charly had gone to the demonstration on 21 March to pay her respects to Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving police officer. She said that Charly went out to ‘to protect the right of women to be on the streets’.

“Bristol Anti-Repression Campaign (BARC) stands with Charly, and with all of those who are in prison or going through the court system.”

Charly Pitman’s lawyer said her client was not a danger to anyone and urged the judge to consider imposing a suspended sentence – photo: Avon & Somerset police

As well as the 19 people who have been sentenced to prison time for their role in what BARC calls Bristol’s “uprising against police violence”, five more people will be sentenced this summer with at least 20 people still awaiting trial.

Most of the sentences have been for between three and six years, but Ryan Roberts, 25, of no fixed address, was given a 14-year prison term after being convicted of five offences: riot, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, attempted arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered and two counts of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

In May, Kadeem Yarde of Bishopston became the first ‘kill the bill’ defendant to be cleared of all charges.

During his trial, the jury saw footage from a police body camera of Yarde grabbing a police baton as it came down and kicking back against a riot shield.

He pleaded not guilty to violent disorder but then the CPS authorised the police to up the charge to riot, which he also pleaded not guilty to. The 24-year-old was cleared of all charges after a two-hour jury deliberation.

BARC’s statement added: “We are full of anger at the government which is enacting laws to take away our freedom, and at the police who use violence to brutalise those who speak out. We are full of rage at the so called ‘justice’ system that helps to hold this system in place.

“We are also full of inspiration at the spirit of rebellion that poured out onto the streets outside Bridewell. We are proud of the rebels of 21st March, we will not forget our comrades who are in prison. Their resistance, and the draconian sentences they are facing, are already inspiring a new generation of people.”

Main photo & videos: Martin Booth

Read more: Policing a protest: the view from the control room

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