It turns out police officers didn’t suffer broken bones during Sunday’s protest

Avon and Somerset Police services have retracted claims that offices suffered broken bones at the ‘Kill the Bill’ protests in Bristol that took place on Sunday night.

Bristol’s police force initially claimed that one officer was left with a broken arm and another with broken ribs, but have since made clear that these claims are untrue.

The protest left 21 police officers injured.

Photo Credits: Billy Husband

People initially gathered on College Green at 17:45 to demonstrate against the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which amongst other things, gives the police more powers to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Those convicted under the proposed legislation could face a fine or jail time.

Though the initial event was peaceful, violence broke out once it got dark. Protestors set a police vehicle on fire and smashed the Bridewell police station windows. Police deployed mounted officers and dog units, and seven activists were arrested.

However although 21 officers were injured, the Avon and Somerset police admitted no officers had been found to suffer from broken bones.

In a statement the force said it was investigation assaults on 40 officers and one member of the media.

Photo Credits: Billy Husband

They added: “Thankfully following a full medical assessment of the two officers taken to hospital, neither were found to have suffered confirmed broken bones.”

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, the main proponent behind the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has criticised the “criminality and violent behaviour” exhibited by Bristol’s protestors.

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees has described protestors as “selfish, self-indulgent and self-centred” on the BBC’s Today Programme.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Here are all the best signs from Bristol’s Kill The Bill protest

• Protesters were ‘selfish, self-indulgent and self-centred’ says Marvin Rees

• As it happened: Riot police and protestors clash at Kill the Bill protest in Bristol