F
ourteen people have been arrested after anti-lockdown marchers defied police orders to cancel their protest.
Avon and Somerset Police had made clear they would take action if an event organised by Stand Up Bristol went ahead.
The force said around 400 people gathered on College Green before marching through the city centre.
One of those addressing the crowd was Piers Corbyn, 73, the elder brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
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A man is arrested during the anti-lockdown protest
/ Getty Images )Police said several people were identified as leaders of the protest and were arrested.
Most arrests were for breaches of the coronavirus regulations, with one man also arrested for assaulting a police officer, the force said.
“We warned the organisers repeatedly of the consequences should they press ahead with their plans, both in terms of the enforcement action we would take and the risk it presented in spreading Covid-19, but sadly they chose to ignore these.
“Knowing there was a possibility of the protest going ahead, a comprehensive policing plan was put in place and while officers initially looked to encourage people to leave the area it became clear enforcement action was necessary.”
