Five people charged following Bristol anti-lockdown protest
Five people have been charged and a fine has been issued by police following an anti-lockdown protest in Bristol.
Four men and a woman have been charged with offences including participating in a gathering of more than two people and failing to comply with the direction of officers.
One man has since been fined £319 after 400 people took part in the demonstration, which was illegal under current coronavirus restrictions.
Avon and Somerset Police had warned organisers in advance not to attend, and said fines will be issued.
In total, thirteen people were arrested on the day - which saw police deploy a range of resources including specially-trained public order teams, horses, dogs and a drone.
The five people arrested and charged have been named by police as:
26-year-old Hollie Bishop of Britton Gardens, Kingswood.
53-year-old Robin Campbell of Hill House Road, Downend.
34-year-old James Freeman from Manchester.
45-year-old Paul Thomas of no fixed address.
24-year-old Kieran Whitfield of Crossways Road, Knowle.
Four people have been bailed:
A 73-year-old man from Southwark, London.
A43-year-old man from Bishopston, Bristol.
A 50-year-old man from Brentry, Bristol.
A 70-year-old man from Glastonbury.
Three people have been released under investigation:
A36-year-old man from Patchway, Bristol released under investigation.
A 42-year-old man from Emersons Green.
A 28-year-old man from Kingswood, South Gloucestershire.
And one man aged in his 20s has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said the protesters were “nothing short of a disgrace”.
“Whilst the majority of our communities do their best to support each other through the COVID-19 pandemic, and our NHS and other essential workers make sacrifices to keep our society going and save lives, these selfish idiots are an embarrassment to Bristol.”
The five charged with offences will appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 7 January.
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