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“They are not going home, so we are going to change tactics.”
The words of a high ranking police officer to us as we waited behind police lines, five hours after the last protest started in Bristol.
Minutes later, while filming on the side of the mounted police front-line protesters, the push began.
The protesters were divided by several roads, with some intending to confront the officers.
The dispersion was forceful, direct and chaotic.
Police dogs surrounded the remaining several hundred protesters as officers in full riot gear pushed the line forward in an attempt to drive crowds away from the Bridewell Police Station.
The tactic worked, but not quickly.
The protesters were divided by several roads, with some intending to confront the officers.
“Their hands are stained with blood,” a protester yelled at me.
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Hundreds of people gather for the demonstration of ‘Kill The Bill’
The chants of “Our Streets” and “Kill the Bill” had echoed in the downtown protest throughout the night.
What had started as a friendly rally of several thousand at 4 p.m. ended with 500 to 750 protesters who, despite heavy rains, were determined to stay to protest their anger at the Police and Crime Law.
The dispersal continued to push us and the protesters through The Horsefair.
At one point, the mounted officers proceeded at a pace fast enough to force the protesters to turn and run.
And then 45 minutes after the police changed tactics, the huge crowds left.
Small handfuls walking into the night, while riot police stood guard in various streets and alleys.
There are reports of more protests planned this weekend.
This was the third night of outages Bristol has seen this week.
There are reports of more protests planned this weekend.
The hope now is that violent clashes between police and the public will not become commonplace, in a city that is fast becoming famous for protests.
