Bristol anti-immigration protesters released

via @rfergo84 TikTok

On 8th August, anti-immigration protests began at 10.30 AM in Queen’s Square, stopping at Bristol Bridge and Bridewell police station. The protest finished at the Cenotaph.

There were an estimated 150 anti-immigration protesters and 300 counter-protesters.

Around 300 police officers were deployed to the event.

Supt Karen Corrigan said there were “pockets of disorder.”

“When one group tries to push through this clear boundary, officers must take proportionate actions and force to maintain the line and prevent disorder,” Corrigan said after disorder between officers and protesters attempting to cross police lines.

Most Read

Chris Watts has remarried in jail and he and his new wife have ‘steamy visits’ in prison

Indie artist addresses huge similarities between her old music video and Ariana Grande’s petal

All the Love Island 2026 cast members who spent an absolute fortune on surgery before the show

Six of the arrests were due to new laws around suspected concealing of identity during protests, with police able to create a designated zone where face coverings are not allowed.

Corrigan said officers were using loudspeakers during the protest to make protesters aware of the new law.

“This is a challenging law to carry out, especially when faced with such huge numbers of attendees, but the initial feedback from my bronze commanders is we were seeing fewer people with face coverings than we may have in previous protests,” says Corrigan.

The other arrests and alleged offences, according to the BBC, included assault by beating, assaulting an emergency worker, obstructing a public highway, intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress, using threatening or abusive words/behaviour, and acting in a disorderly way.

As of 10th August, those arrested have been released under investigation.