Priti Patel vows 'justice' after Boris says Black Lives Matter protests were 'subverted by thugs' - while Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy SUPPORTS mob pulling down slave trader Edward Colston's statue in Bristol
Priti Patel today vowed to bring violent Black Lives Matter protesters to 'justice' for attacking police in London and tearing down the Edward Colston statue in Bristol as Labour MPs backed its destruction - but police officers battling the activists in the streets say their bosses have got their tactics 'completely wrong'.
The Home Secretary said that the UK demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis had been 'subverted by thuggery' and told those responsible: 'Justice will follow'.
Rank-and-file officers left bloodied by attacks with sticks and rocks have today accused their bosses of allowing 'lawlessness' to take hold because of public perception instead of allowing them to deal with the attackers 'more robustly'.
In Bristol there have been no arrests at all in relation to the destruction of Colston's statue despite 17 suspects being identified and Avon and Somerset Police have said they have 'no regrets' about not stopping it being pulled down and thrown in the city's harbour.
Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy told ITV's Good Morning Britain today he backed its destruction: 'I do absolutely support protest in the incident of the Colston statue. This is a man who transported over 80,000 African men women and children. It's shameful, shameful - we're actually discussing whether he should have a statue'.
Since last Wednesday 49 officers in London have been injured but there have only been around 60 arrests - and Ken Marsh, chief of the Met Police Federation, has asked Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick to apologise to her officers and said: 'Let me be clear, we as a police service can deal with these outbreaks of disorder, no problems. But it seems we are more concerned about image and perception rather than protecting our brave police officers and maintaining order.
'It's sadly now clear – and frankly has been clear for a number of days - that some people are using these protests as an excuse to attack police officers. We have had enough warnings. The tactics being used by the Metropolitan Police are very wrong. And need to be looked at as a matter of urgency.'
In Bristol yesterday a group armed with ropes and tools dragged down the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in a 'premeditated' act of criminal damage and were then allowed to roll it to the city's dock and hurl it into the water.
Superintendent Andy Bennett, who was in charge in the city yesterday, said he had 'no regrets' about not intervening as activists dragged the statue down - but conceded that officers were 'duty-bound' to investigate. He said: 'As a police officer, I don't get to choose which laws I uphold and which I don't. We are duty-bound to investigate this. We know and have identified 17 main offenders in terms of tearing it down and an investigation is underway.'
The chairman of the Police Federation, which represents all officers in England and Wales, has criticised Avon and Somerset Police for its decision not to intervene in a protest in Bristol where a statue of a slave trader was torn down.
John Apter told BBC Breakfast: 'To have no police presence there I think sent quite a negative message. I am a police officer so I don't support this lawlessness we saw where this statue was ripped down and rolled down the street and pushed into the river because that is not how we do things'.
In London 22 officers were injured over the weekend on top of 13 last week after being pelted with objects on Whitehall. One activist clambered onto The Cenotaph, the war monument dedicated to the millions of lives lost during the First World War, and set fire to the Union Jack flag, while another gang defaced the monument to Winston Churchill in Westminster and daubed 'was a racist' on its plinth.
Police officers were shown being chased down streets and across bridges by protesters throwing bottles and rocks. One Met Police riot unit tackling the violence tweeted a picture of a boulder thrown at them last night and said: 'No it's not an asteroid. It's one of the many things we had thrown at us last night between Parliament Square and Elephant and Castle. Multiple officers injured from our line alone. Unacceptable'.
Protesters tied ropes around the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol city centre, before tearing it to the ground on Sunday
As the protests descended into chaos, one protester (left and right) was seen climbing on the historic monument The Cenotaph and setting fire to the Union Jack flag
Protesters throw statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally yesterday
People celebrate in the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square yesterday - the day it was defaced. It is not not known if these two men were involved
Police push back three young men who try to join the protest in Whitehall yesterday
A protestor is pulled away as peaceful demonstrations in the capital turn violent in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the U.S.
A protester is placed in a spit hood as he is restrained by Police Officers close to Westminster tube station yesterday
Another suspect is led away by police on Vauxhall Bridge - one of around 60 arrests in London since protests began last Wednse
Another suspect is pinned down on the fifth night of violence in Central London. Police unions say the tactics have been wrong
Dozens of police officers have now been injured in the attacks on them in the past five days. Many have questioned why they are not all in riot gear
When asked whether police should have looked to have stopped the Colston statute from being toppled in Bristol, Kit Malthouse told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I know if they (police) possibly can prevent crime taking place by intervening in a public order situation they will, but obviously it is a difficult situation for frontline commanders and no doubt there will be a post-mortem, if you like, of the public order situation in Bristol, and indeed elsewhere in the country, to make sure lessons can be learned.'
But Mr Malthouse indicated that it would not have been practical to arrest all those who took part for breaking coronavirus-related restrictions.
He added: 'We did say right at the start that this was against the regulations.
'But obviously the reality was that people were going to come anyway. Other than arresting whatever it was - 15,000 people in London and many more elsewhere - managing the protest was I think the best call given the strength of feeling that was running.'
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, called for tube stations in central London to be shut and Hyde Park and Whitehall - the areas targeted by protesters last week - to be closed off to the public.
The draconian measures, he said, will also help stop tens of thousands of people swarming into the city ignoring social distancing regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Marsh's comments come after violent clashes over the weekend saw a female mounted officer suffer a broken collarbone, cracked ribs and a collapsed lung after she came off her horse when the animal was spooked by flares and other missiles hurled by protesters.
Officers were left bruised and bloodied after being pelted with bottles and road signs and hit with sticks and metal poles by yobs who also vandalised the Cenotaph and statue to Sir Winston Churchill outside Parliament. A total of 41 arrests were made over the weekend.
With fears over further trouble this weekend - as right-wing activist Tommy Robinson pledged to travel to London on Saturday to join football fans in protecting the capital's monuments - Mr Marsh told MailOnline: 'These protests have to stop now.
'We need to be more robust in terms of policing and we need to stop this happening. We know about it, we've got the intelligence. The Mayor Sadiq Khan now needs to come out and say 'I'm not having this in my city'.
'We are in the middle of a pandemic here. And we allow this to take place, even though these protests are increasingly being hijacked by those intent on confrontation with the police.
'We shouldn't have allowed it, we should have shut the tubes, shut Hyde Park and shut Whitehall.
A police officer sits on the ground and receives medical attention after demonstrations became violent during a Black Lives Matter protest in London yesterday
Another suspect is taken into custody - it appears there have been no charges in relation to the disorder yet
A council worker removes graffiti from the statue of Sir Winston Churchill at Parliament Square
Graffiti was also removed from the plinth of Abraham Lincoln, overlooking Parliament outside the Supreme Court
A poster hangs from the statue of the 18th Century philosopher David Hume on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as protesters target other statues
The remains of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol which was pulled down by Black Lives Matter protesters yesterday
The Harbour Master checks the depth of the area of water where the statue of Edward Colston was dumped - but the Mayor of Bristol says he's in no rush to fish it out
'People should be allowed to protest, I've got no problem with that, it's the DNA within us as Brits that we protest. But in the middle of this pandemic? No.
'Let's get this dealt with, let's make sure we're all safe in relation to Covid 19 because all lives matter, and then if you want to protest do what you want to do.
'But at the moment this is just selfish. It's not necessary. My colleagues have no choice whatsoever, they have to be there and I thought they did an incredible job over the weekend.
'The provocation was quite high to which they didn't react to. They took the abuse that was thrown at them. I don't know why they're taking this sort of abuse on the back of something that took place 5000 miles away but this is where we are. I thought they did a sterling job without fear or favour.
'The problem is now that I think people have cottoned onto the fact they can now get away with coming out onto the streets, whereas they couldn't when they were locked up at home for ten weeks.
'But the legislation is that not more than six people can gather. Is it two sets of rules? This is just ridiculous and it's putting all my colleagues at risk and I don't want my colleagues to be put at risk.'
The worst of the trouble erupted outside Downing Street on Saturday evening after a largely peaceful protest over the death of African-American George Floyd, who died in U.S police custody two weeks ago.
Missiles, including several flares, were hurled over security gates guarding the entrance to the Prime Minister's official residence by a crowd who had earlier chanted 'Boris Johnson's a racist'.
The violence prompted officers in riot gear to intervene followed by the mounted division.
In the chaos that ensued, a mounted came off her horse after colliding into traffic lights as protesters threw fireworks, bangers, bottles and at one point even a Boris Bike.
Dramatic footage showed a riderless horse bolting back down Whitehall, colliding with an innocent demonstrator as it do so.
The injured officer was pictured lying motionless and unconscious on the floor before she was dragged away by her colleagues. She is now stable in hospital.
Mr Marsh praised the officer and said: 'She's a hero because, like my other colleagues, she put herself on the line for a protest that was unlawful, shouldn't have taken place and, by its very nature, could have caused thousands more deaths by being held in the middle of a pandemic.
'The officer is currently stable in hospital but serious injuries have been sustained, a broken collarbone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Not life-threatening but it will take quite a while to recover, three to four months I'd imagine.
'They are not nice injuries. Anyone who's had a broken collarbone will know that it's a horrible injury because it's one of those that's very difficult to heal. Likewise broken ribs and a collapsed lung are also horrible because there isn't anything you can prescribe for them.
'She will be alright but it's going to take a bit of time.'
Just 24-hours after the mayhem in Westminster another Black Lives Matter protest took place in London yesterday.
Thousands gathered outside the American Embassy, just south of the River Thames in Nine Elms, before heading back into Westminster, where further clashes with police took place.
One officer was seen with blood pouring down his head after being hit by a traffic cone while mobile phone footage showed other officers being forced to run from a baying bottle-throwing mob.
A dispersal order was enforced in Westminster until 6am this morning as riot police battled into the night to move a group of about 50 violent protesters on.
Earlier in the day, Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol had toppled a bronze statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston and rolled it into the harbour.
The Prime Minister condemned the trouble in both cities.
In a statement he said the BLM protests were 'subverted by thuggery' and that the violence was a 'betrayal' of their cause.
And last night English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson blasted the 'Soft-handed' police approach for failing to protect the Cenotaph and the Sir Winston Churchill statue.
He told his followers on social media that he would be heading into London on Saturday, adding: 'I cannot believe what's come of our capital city.
'Attack that statue like you did in Bristol today and think there's not going to be a British public there to confront you about it, you're wrong.
'You watch next Saturday how many people turn up.'
A group called the Democratic Football Lads Alliance, made up of football fans from around Britain, has pledged to form a protective ring around London's war memorials and statues to prevent them from being damaged in protests.
The clean-up began in Bristol today as council teams removed BLM placards and used chemicals to clean off graffiti defacing the plinth that held the Edward Colston statue in Bristol, and another of Winston Churchill in London.
On the Colston statue, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said it will be fished out 'at some point' and it is 'highly likely' to end up in one of the city's museums - with a debate set to be held over what should replace it on the plinth.
Speaking about the general public disorder, Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News: 'I think that is utterly disgraceful and that speaks to the acts of public disorder that actually have now become a distraction from the cause in which people are actually protesting about and trying to empathise and sympathise with.
'That is completely an unacceptable act and that speaks to the vandalism - again as we saw (on Saturday) in London - but sheer vandalism and disorder completely is unacceptable. And it's right the police follow up on that and make sure that justice is taken with those individuals responsible for such disorderly and lawless behaviour.'
The shocking images come as global demonstrations intensify after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 for nine minutes.
Demonstrators flouted social distancing rules yesterday to flood the streets around the US Embassy in London before marching on Westminster, protesting against racial injustice and police brutality.
While the majority of the protests remained peaceful, violence erupted yet again, with images showing police and demonstrators suffering injuries during the melee which led to 12 arrests and eight officers being injured.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the majority of the arrests had been made for public order offences and one was for criminal damage following the incident at the Cenotaph.
Also yesterday, images showed Black Lives Matter protesters tearing down a statue of 17th century slave trader and philanthropist Edward Colston in Bristol and dumping it in the harbour.
Footage showed demonstrators, packed closely together - despite social distancing guidelines, heaving the metal monument down with ropes before cheering and dancing around it, with many placing their knees on the fallen statue as it lay on the ground - in a nod to the death of Mr Floyd.
Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, told BBC Radio Bristol today: 'It's still underwater. At some point it will (be fished out) but we've a number of priorities in the city at the moment, not least trying to face up to an £80million gap in our budget that we've been left with by national Government not funding us adequately for Covid.'
He added: 'I think that there's a really incredible opportunity to talk about ourselves and to make a decision about what we think should go on a plinth in the city to tell us about who we are, not just who we are but who we want to be and to really use that as a place to celebrate something about ourselves, the best of ourselves.
'What I would look forward to is having that city discussion. In the meantime it's highly likely that the Colston statue will end up in one of our museums.'
But Government minister for crime and policing Kit Malthouse told BBC Breakfast: 'A crime was committed, criminal damage was committed, there should be evidence gathered and a prosecution should follow.'
'There is an elected mayor of Bristol, there is a council in Bristol and it is via those democratic means that we will resolve these issues in this country - not by people showing up with ropes and tools and committing criminal damage. We have to have a sense of order and democracy - that is how we sort things out and that is what should have happened.'
But Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I do absolutely support protest in the incident of the Colston statue. This is a man who transported over 80,000 African men women and children. It's shameful, shameful - we're actually discussing whether he should have a statue. People have been calling for that statue to come down in Bristol for many years. There may be a role for statues such as this in museums where there is proper context where they can think about their contribution to society as well as what they got wrong.'
A firework is set off as clashes take place between police officers and Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Whitehall, London
A demonstrator climbs onto The Cenotaph in Whitehall as a peaceful protest descends into chaos in London earlier today
Officers carrying protective shields stand guard after a flare hits the pavement during the anti-racism rally in London
Ms Patel told the Mail she was 'sickened' by Mr Floyd's death on May 25 and said that 'justice and accountability must follow'.
But she added: 'There are no excuses for the unlawful behaviour and disorder we have witnessed throughout the weekend including the disgraceful vandalism we saw in Bristol and the utterly appalling abuse of our police officers.'
Commenting on the desecration of Churchill's statue, she added: 'Winston Churchill is one of the greatest Britons who ever lived. We have him to thank for our very freedom to protest. The vandals who did this are repulsive criminals who I want to see brought to justice immediately.'
Police officers had suffered 'serious injuries' inflicted by 'a small minority of violent people using the guise of peaceful protest to pursue reckless lawlessness,' she said. She added: 'I know that the British public will be as appalled as I am at those scenes.'
Outside Downing Street some demonstrators were seen turning violent as police officers tried to control the mass chaos and form a barricade with their riot shields.
A group of members of the public remove graffiti from the statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill today
A person cleans graffiti from the statue of Winston Churchill at Parliament Square in London this morning
Yesteday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the anti-racism demonstrations had been 'subverted by thuggery' following a day of protests across the UK.
He tweeted: 'People have a right to protest peacefully & while observing social distancing but they have no right to attack the police.
'These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery - and they are a betrayal of the cause they purport to serve. Those responsible will be held to account.'
Hours after the incident that saw the statue of Edward Colston pulled down in Bristol, the M6 in the Midlands was closed as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway.
A video posted on social media showed crowds of people covering the motorway at the Exhall interchange near Coventry as traffic remained stationary on the other side.
Flares are launched into the air as police and demonstrators clash during Black Lives Matter protest in the nation's capital today
Members of the police force attempt to disperse the crowds as a demonstrator climbs onto the national war monument in London
One eyewitness claimed there were around 100 people who were heard chanting 'Black Lives Matter' as they took part in the demonstrations.
Many drivers on the motorway were pictured emerging from their cars to watch the protests, which began at around 5pm, and the southbound carriageway was closed for around two hours.
Today spokesperson for the protests in London, Superintendent Jo Edwards, said: 'Regrettably officers were faced with further scenes of violence and disorder following a day of predominantly peaceful protest throughout the capital.
'This is a hugely impassioned movement and we understand the public's desire to have their voices heard – however it is not right that this passion has turned into violent attacks on officers.
'I would like to thank our officers, and those from the City of London Police and British Transport Police for their professionalism in the face of entirely unacceptable behaviour.
'Overnight our policing operation will continue and I would urge demonstrators thinking of returning to stay at home. The threat of Coronavirus remains very real, and we need you to protect yourselves, your friends and your family.'
As the chaos continued, one protester, who took part in defacing the statue of the former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was heard on camera saying: 'Tagged up Churchill as a racist on the statue of Churchill because he is a confirmed racist.
'He didn't fight the Nazis for the commonwealth or for anything else or for any personal freedoms. He fought the Nazis purely to protect the commonwealth against the invasion by foreign forces. He didn't do it for black people or people of colour. He did it purely for colonialism.
'People will be angry but at the end of the day I'm angry that for many years we've been oppressed. You can't enslave people, have the largest colonial empire ever in history and they try and come like ''yeah let's be peaceful'' it don't work like that.'
Demonstrators clash with police carrying protective shields after thousands took to the streets of London during the anti-racism rally
A protester wearing a black coat and mask stands in front of a Winston Churchill statue which has been defaced in Parliament Square
People try to clean the graffiti on a Winston Churchill memorial statue in Parliament Square today after some demonstrators defaced the monument
A group of people gather at the memorial site in an attempt to clean the graffiti left by some demonstrators at the rally
A protester wearing a face covering holds a blue flare into the air as demonstrations turn to chaos amid the Black Lives Matter march
Police form a line against protestors as demonstrations descend into chaos following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis
Some demonstrators hurl objects at police in Parliament Square, London, today as a part of the Black Lives Matter protest became violent
In Parliament Square, police officers formed a line against some demonstrators as the anti- racism rally descended into chaos
Police wearing protective shields clash with protesters during the Black Lives Matter protest in Westminster, London
A group of police officers detain a protester in central London as demonstrations descend into chaos and some are injured
One demonstrator is held on the ground by a group of officers during the Black Lives Matter rally in central London today
A group of people run away from the scene after some protesters become violent during the Black Lives Matter demonstration
Police and protesters clash once again as a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest turns violent in Whitehall, London today
Police officers form a line and prevent demonstrators from entering King Charles Street in London today as protests continue to take place
A protester (left and right) is restrained by police before being taken away from the scenes in hand-cuffs as the demonstrations continue
Protesters and police face each other during the Black Lives Matter protest in London today just a day after it was revealed 14 officers had been left injured during the demonstrations in the city yesterday
A person wearing a black hooded jumper and a balaclava is restrained by police and escorted away from the violent scenes
One demonstrator is restrained by two police officers near Westminster tube station as the ongoing protests turn violent
Protests and police clash near The Cenotaph in London as the anti-racism rally breaks into chaos and some are left injured
Police stretch out their arms and urge protesters to move back amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in London today
A demonstrator wearing a face mask is detained by police officers during the Black Lives Matter protest today in London
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that while people had a right to protest the anti-racism demonstrations had been 'subverted by thuggery'
The nationwide scenes come just a day after Met Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, revealed that 14 police officers had been hurt during anti-racism protests in London yesterday evening which saw a police officer injured after falling off her horse.
In a statement yesterday the police chief said: 'I am deeply saddened and depressed that a minority of protesters became violent towards officers in central London yesterday evening.
'This led to 14 officers being injured, in addition to 13 hurt in earlier protests this week.
'We have made a number of arrests and justice will follow. I know many who were seeking to make their voices heard will be as appalled as I am by those scenes.
'I would urge protesters to please find another way to make your views heard which does not involve coming out on the streets of London, risking yourself, your families and officers as we continue to face [the deadly coronavirus].'
Following the destruction of the statue in Bristol today former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid condemned protesters' decision to force it down, declaring on Twitter: 'This is not OK'.
Speaking after the demonstration, superintendent Andy Bennett vowed there would be an investigation into the 'act of criminal damage,' near Bristol Harbourside, where slave ships once docked centuries ago.
Meanwhile Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News: 'I think that is utterly disgraceful. That speaks to the acts of public disorder that actually have become a distraction from the cause that people are actually protesting.
A demonstrator lights a flare and holds it in the air as the anti-racism protests continued in Parliament Square today
Police officers try to push back protesters during the anti-racism rally in London today as protests continue across the nation
Barriers are left scattered on the road after police and demonstrators clash in Victoria Street during the anti-racism rally
A group of protesters clash members of the police force in London as the rally takes a violent turn in certain regions across the UK
A police officer and a group of demonstrators clash at King Charles Street archway in London as protests continue across the country
The police force wear protective armour and hold their shields as they are deployed to the scene in London amid the demonstrations
Some protesters stand in front of police officers in Parliament Square, London, as the ant-racism rally continues across the country
Officers in protective gear form a barricade against demonstrators in London today after the anti-racism rally saw scenes of violence
Officers stand guard as demonstrators continue in Whitehall, London, today following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month
Police form a barrier against some of the protesters as the peaceful protest once agin turns violent in Whitehall, London, today
Clashes begin to take place between police and demonstrators today as the Black Lives Matter protest turns violent
Hundreds of protesters descended upon Whitehall in London today to demand justice for the police killing of George Floyd and show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement
Protesters wave signs showing their support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in America
Police congregate on Westminster Bridge as thousands flood the streets of London today during a Black Lives Matter protest
'Sheer vandalism and disorder is completely unacceptable and its right the police follow up on that and make sure justice is undertaken.'
The scenes come as demonstrations continue to increase around the world after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 for nine minutes.
Following the death of George Floyd, three other officers who were also present at the scene, Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Earlier today Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is 'undoubtedly a risk' that there will be an increase in Covid-19 cases following the protests, as he urged people not to gather in groups of more than six people.
Mr Hancock said he supported the activists' arguments, but said: 'Please don't gather in groups of more than six people because there is also a pandemic that we must address and control.'
Demonstrators in Bristol were heard laughing and cheering as the statue of the slave trader was toppled by protesters into the harbour
Just hours later the M6 was forced to close closed in the Midlands as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway
A protester wearing a face covering joins other demonstrators and walks along the M6 during a Black Lives Matter rally earlier today
Priti Patel vows 'justice' after Boris says Black Lives Matter protests were 'subverted by thugs' - while Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy SUPPORTS mob pulling down slave trader Edward Colston's statue in Bristol
![Priti Patel vows 'justice' after Boris says Black Lives Matter protests were 'subverted by thugs' - while Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy SUPPORTS mob pulling down slave trader Edward Colston's statue in Bristol]()
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