‘It was so wrong’: why were so many people imprisoned over one protest in Bristol? | Protest | The Guardian
The long read: More people have been imprisoned for rioting during a single day in Bristol in 2021 than in any other protest-related disorder since at least the 1980s. What was behind this push to prosecute so harshly?
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The Protests
- Fleur Moody, 26 at the time, was getting her life back on track after years of mental health problems and addiction.
- She and her partner were on their way to join a march against proposed laws that would give the police extensive new powers to clamp down on protests.
- Moody found herself face to face with police officers in riot gear who were driving protesters back with their shields.
- She was shoved to the ground and kicked an officer’s plastic shield.
- When Moody apologised for kicking plastic shield, she had no idea that such action could lead to a charge of riot, which could land her in prison for up to 10 years.
- More people have been imprisoned for rioting during a single day in Bristol in 2021 than in any other protest-related disorder since at least the 1980s.
The Bristol Protests and the Crackdown on the Right to Protest
- Nationwide protests against the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill dominated the news in 2021.
- The protests in Bristol attracted the most attention, with clashes between protesters and the police.
- The chief constable claimed the protest was "hijacked by extremists" intent on assaulting officers.
- The legal crackdown that followed was severe, with riot charges being brought against protesters.
- Riot charges are rare, but 38 people have been charged with riot for their involvement in the Bristol protests.
- Many of the accused claim they were acting in self-defense against police aggression.
- The severity of the state's response suggests a politically driven crackdown on the right to protest.
- The protests came in the wake of a resurgence of mass protest, including Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
- Some saw the protests as a threat to free market democracy and accused them of seeking to undermine the state.
Protests against anti-protest legislation in Bristol
- Policy Exchange report called for better police preparation against disruptive protests and tougher prosecution.
- Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services report criticized police for allowing excessive disruption by protesters.
- The police, crime, sentencing and courts bill proposed giving police new powers to limit protests, including arresting protesters causing alarm or annoyance.
- Public opposition to the bill increased after the police broke up a vigil for Sarah Everard, sparking the "kill the bill" movement.
- Bristol, a city with a history of protests, felt targeted by the bill, with activists seeing it as revenge for previous demonstrations.
- The bill included provisions that threatened the way of life for van-dwellers in Bristol.
- Thousands of protesters gathered in Bristol to protest against the bill, including individuals from various activist networks and the traveling community.
The Bristol Protests and Police Response
- Protesters gathered in the city, with speeches, music, banners, and chants.
- A portion of the crowd broke away and headed to Bridewell police station.
- Initial stages of the protest at the police station were non-violent.
- Confrontation occurred after protesters allegedly rocked a police van and threw objects.
- Protesters claim police response was disproportionate and indiscriminate.
- Footage shows officers hitting and pushing protesters, and horse-mounted officers charging into the crowd.
- Clashes between protesters and police intensified throughout the evening.
- Protesters broke a police station window and torched an empty police van and car.
- Police reinforcements arrived, and control was regained around 10:30 pm.
- Detective Superintendent James Riccio led the investigation into the unrest, with a team of 111 officers reviewing hours of footage.
- 44 alleged victims, mostly police officers, and 158 suspects were identified.
Prosecutions and Sentencing in the Bristol Riot Cases
- Riccio's team created an online gallery of suspects and invited the public to help identify them.
- Pitman, Bond, and Lazarus turned themselves in after seeing their faces in the gallery.
- Initially charged with violent disorder, the charges were later increased to riot, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years.
- Moody received a letter informing her of charges for violent disorder and riot.
- Charging decisions are led by the CPS, who consult with lawyers and headquarters.
- Riccio was apprehensive about securing riot convictions as it had never been charged before in Avon and Somerset police.
- Nine defendants pleaded guilty to riot, while Pitman, Bond, Lazarus, and Moody maintained their innocence.
- Pitman's trial was the first, and despite video evidence, she was found guilty and sentenced to three years.
- Bond and Lazarus accepted plea bargains, pleading guilty to a lesser charge, resulting in shorter sentences.
- Moody took a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to affray, receiving a suspended sentence.
- Despite video evidence of being beaten unconscious, the police and CPS maintained the initial charges against Moody were justified.
Evidence Emerges Supporting Claims of Police Aggression in Bristol Protests
- 19 protesters convicted of riot, with another 23 convicted of lesser charges and sentenced to a combined total of 112 years in jail.
- Evidence indicates that police actions escalated the violence and many protesters were trying to protect themselves from police aggression.
- An independent parliamentary inquiry confirmed that the police failed to distinguish between violent and peaceful protesters in Bristol and used excessive force against peaceful protesters.
- Evidence presented to juries after people started pleading not guilty resulted in acquittals for protesters who claimed self-defense and injuries caused by the police.
- Acquittals have led to a change in the CPS charging policy, with fewer defendants now facing riot charges and more likely to be charged with less serious public order offenses.
- Injury reports cast doubt on the narrative that protesters were the main aggressors, with numerous protesters treated for injuries inflicted by the police, including head injuries.
Discrepancies in injuries reported during Bristol protests raise questions about police conduct and prosecution decisions.
- More protesters were injured than officers during the protests.
- Police had to withdraw claims of officers suffering serious injuries.
- Reported injuries sustained by officers include cases of suspected concussion and bruising, but some are less severe.
- No officers have faced disciplinary action for their conduct during the protests.
- There have been 17 complaints about the policing of the protests, including excessive force.
- The internal review process by the police's professional standards department is seen by some as insufficiently independent.
- The treatment of Bristol's Kill the Bill protesters by the criminal justice system is seen as unusual.
- Protesters are being treated differently by the courts compared to the past, with less recognition of their social causes and understanding of their involvement in tense situations.
- Riot charges, which are rare, were imposed on the protesters, leading to suspicions of political interference by senior politicians.
Politicians' Influence on Charges and the Impact on Protesters in Bristol
- The Times reported that Home Secretary Patel privately reprimanded Avon and Somerset's chief constable for failing to stop the toppling of the Colston statue.
- Patel publicly demanded that the police pursue the activists responsible for the statue-toppling.
- Attorney General Braverman successfully referred the case to the appeal court to prevent future juries from considering the right to protest in cases of significant criminal damage.
- Senior politicians, including Patel and Labour shadow Nick Thomas-Symonds, condemned the actions of the protesters in Bristol.
- The CPS insists on its independence from the government and claims that charges reflect the severity of the crimes committed.
- Critics believe that politicians pay lip service to the importance of protest while criminalizing those who participate.
- The Policing Bill and Public Order Act introduced measures that target protests, including offenses related to interfering with infrastructure and locking on during protests.
- New laws were proposed to ban face coverings and pyrotechnics at protests.
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak persuaded police chiefs to sign a protocol restricting protests outside specific locations.
The Bristol Protests and the Treatment of Protesters by the Criminal Justice System
- 19 protesters convicted of riot, with another 23 convicted of lesser charges and sentenced to a combined total of 112 years in jail.
- Evidence suggests that police actions escalated the violence and many protesters were trying to protect themselves from police aggression.
- An independent parliamentary inquiry confirmed that the police failed to distinguish between violent and peaceful protesters and used excessive force against peaceful protesters.
- Acquittals for protesters who claimed self-defense and injuries caused by the police led to a change in the CPS charging policy.
- Injury reports cast doubt on the narrative that protesters were the main aggressors, with numerous protesters treated for injuries inflicted by the police.
- Nationwide protests against the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill dominated the news in 2021.
- The severity of the state's response suggests a politically driven crackdown on the right to protest.
- The protests came in the wake of a resurgence of mass protest, including Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
- The police, crime, sentencing and courts bill proposed giving police new powers to limit protests, sparking public opposition.
- Bristol felt targeted by the bill, with activists seeing it as revenge for previous demonstrations.
- The bill included provisions that threatened the way of life for van-dwellers in Bristol.
- Initial stages of the protest at the police station were non-violent, but confrontation occurred after protesters allegedly rocked a police van and threw objects.
Prosecution and Sentencing in the Bristol Protest-Related Disorder Case
- Public invited to help identify suspects in the online gallery.
- Pitman, Bond, and Lazarus turn themselves in after seeing their faces in the gallery.
- Initial charges of violent disorder later increased to riot, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
- Moody informed of charges for violent disorder and riot.
- Charging decisions led by the CPS, consulting with lawyers and headquarters.
- Apprehension about securing riot convictions as it was unprecedented for Avon and Somerset police.
- Nine defendants plead guilty to riot, while Pitman, Bond, Lazarus, and Moody maintain innocence.
- Pitman found guilty and sentenced to three years despite video evidence.
- Bond and Lazarus accept plea bargains, resulting in shorter sentences.
- Moody takes plea bargain and pleads guilty to affray, receiving a suspended sentence.
- Police and CPS maintain initial charges against Moody despite video evidence of being beaten unconscious.