Arrests made during city centre protest

Three people have been arrested after a protest and counter-protest in Bristol city centre.

Avon and Somerset Police said one man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of using threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and another man was arrested for refusing to remove a face covering.

The protest was organised by Bristol Patriots, who marched from the Cenotaph towards Castle Park and Broadmead around midday.

All three arrested people were taken into custody, while five others were issued with dispersal orders to leave the centre.

Avon and Somerset Police said 200 officers were drafted in to police the event, which saw around 40 members of Bristol Patriots and around 200 counter-protesters attend.

Seven vans and 25 police horses were also in attendance.

Neighbourhood Policing Acting Insp Sean Underwood said: "Today's protest and counter-protest passed mostly without incident.

"I would like to recognise and thank the officers and staff who have worked throughout the day to enable both protests to take place peacefully, especially those who have come in on their days off.

"At this time, we aren't aware of anyone sustaining any injuries during the protest or march."

A dispersal order put in place in the centre of Bristol by Avon and Somerset Police will run until 18:00 GMT, allowing officers the power to instruct protesters to leave the area.

Temporary Ch Insp Rich Fear told the BBC: "Our experience of these events is that we are likely to see anti-social behaviour, the dispersal order is a useful tool for us to disperse people from an area without the use of other police powers."

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