A vandalised police van on fire outside Bridewell Police Station, in Bristol, England, Sunday March 21, 2021, as people took part in a protest demonstrating against the Police and Crime Bill.
(Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)LONDON – A protest in the English city of Bristol against new policing legislation turned into violent clashes that left at least 20 officers injured — two of them seriously — widespread damage to a police station and police vehicles torched, police said Monday.
Seven people were arrested during the protest, which started Sunday afternoon and ran through to the early hours of Monday morning.
The violence, which also saw several police vehicles damaged, was branded as “unacceptable” by Britain's interior minister, Priti Patel.
Under the terms of the legislation, which covers England and Wales, police will be handed new powers to tackle demonstrations.