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Dozens of people have been arrested while protesters held anti-lockdown demonstrations in England, and some policemen were injured after being attacked.
Police criticized “extremely selfish” protesters who mocked COVID-19 Laws after the protests were held in Liverpool, London, Bournemouth and Basildon in Essex.
In Liverpool, 15 people were arrested for alleged public order offenses and violations of coronavirus regulations as protesters moved through the city center on Saturday afternoon.
Merseyside Police Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine criticized the protesters, saying: “The vast majority of people in Merseyside have made great sacrifices since March, missing weddings, funerals and family celebrations in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus “.
An anti-lockdown protester gestures to police officers in Bournemouth
“So it will be incredibly frustrating for all those people to see that a minority of selfish individuals chose to disobey the laws imposed to protect the lives of the people in Merseyside, putting themselves and our communities at risk.
Chief Superintendent Waine said the sight of the protesters in the city center “will alarm many who are now aware of the risk that large groups can pose to the spread of this virus.”
Officers have introduced a dispersal zone in Liverpool city center and will examine CCTV footage and body cameras to “identify criminals and bring them to justice,” it added.
Anti-blockade protester seen wearing a Guy Fawkes mask in Bournemouth
The protests occurred on the day that a new 341 deaths from coronavirus announced in the UK, bringing the country’s total to 54,626.
Essex police said 12 people were arrested after protesters gathered in Basildon, with some officers reporting they were assaulted, although no one was seriously injured.
Seven fines were issued and a dispersal order is maintained for the city center until 12:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the force.
The protesters gathered in Bournemouth (pictured), as well as Liverpool, London and Basildon.
Superintendent Bonnie Moore said: “This was a clear and flagrant violation of government COVID-19 regulations and those who participated have put their health and that of their loved ones at risk through the spread of the virus.”
She added: “Several of our officers involved today also reported being injured but fortunately their injuries are relatively minor.
“Having to deal with clear and flagrant violations of regulations means having to keep our officers away from dealing with other incidents and affects our ability to respond to other forms of crime.”
Basildon Council Leader Gavin Callaghan criticized “idiotic protesters taking over our streets and causing trouble”, saying “police officers and their families have been in totally avoidable danger.”
“I hope the ‘protesters’ will be thrown the book,” he added.
In London, the Metropolitan Police said four people were arrested for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations after protesters gathered at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park.
An anti-blockade protester in Bournemouth
Superintendent Michael Walsh said: “We take reports of violations of COVID-19 restrictions seriously. We are still in a pandemic and it is extremely selfish that a small minority of people continue to disregard the regulations.”
Meanwhile, two people were arrested in Bournemouth after around 100 protesters gathered in the seaside town.
Some of the protesters carried signs saying “the pandemic is over” and criticizing the closure.
Dorset Police said officers made “repeated attempts to engage with the organizers and discourage them from holding the event.”
Two people were arrested after protesters gathered in Bournemouth.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of violating coronavirus regulations, according to the force.
Deputy Chief of Police Mark Callaghan said: “We must ensure that the law is applied equally to everyone.
“We owe it to the vast majority of our communities, who are complying with regulations and doing their part to limit the rate of infection, to take action against those who reportedly ignore the restrictions and encourage others to do so.”
