Priti Patel his blasted the ‘senseless thugs’ who pelted police with missiles and bottles leaving eight officers injured during an anti-Covid passport march in London.
The Home Secretary has said she plans to double the sentence for assaulting emergency workers after pictures showed bloodied police officers confront protestors in Hyde Park yesterday afternoon.
Expressing her frustration on Twitter, Priti Patel wrote: ‘Our brave police are the best of us and should not be the target of senseless violence by a criminal minority for just doing their job.
‘I am getting tough on these thugs and will be doubling the sentence for assault of an emergency worker. I wish the officers a speedy recovery.’
Eight officers were injured as protesters bombarded police with missiles and bottles while thousands of anti-vaccine passport activists marched through London.
TV presenter Beverly Turner and London Mayor candidates Piers Corbyn and Laurence Fox joined thousands of activists in a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports.
Demonstrators hurled bottles as officers attempted to disperse the crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
Photographs posted on social media show a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head, while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.
Sharing pictures of bloodied police officers, Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned ‘senseless violence’ directed at officers
Priti Patel (pictured) announced plans to double the sentence for those convicted of assaulting an emergency worker
A Met Police spokesman said two officers were taken to hospital after protesters turned violent last night. They added: ‘Eight officers were injured as they worked to disperse crowds in Hyde Park this evening.
‘Missiles including bottles were thrown in small pockets of disorder. Two officers were taken to hospital. Thankfully, they are not believed to be seriously injured.’
Five people were arrested for offences including assault on police and remain in custody.
Demonstrators made their way through the capital earlier yesterday as they waved banners and placards daubed with a range of slogans including ‘no new normal’ and ‘no health passport’.
The crowds did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing face masks.
Two other arrests were made earlier in the day as a 38-year-old was taken into custody at 3.20pm near Embankment on suspicion of a public order offence.
At 4.40pm a 37-year-old man was arrested near Trafalgar Square on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and a public order offence.
The protest comes amid discussions over ‘Covid-status certificates’ being considered by ministers to help open up society, get people back into work or away on holiday despite concerns from Boris Johnson’s own MPs that they will be ‘intrusive, costly and unnecessary’.
A police officer was left with blood streaming down his face as the protests turned ugly in Hyde Park this evening
The gathering was in protest against vaccine passport, face masks and lockdown. Pictured: Protestor clashes with an officer
Protestors, including London Mayor candidates Piers Corbyn and Laurence Fox (pictured), made their way through London
Thousands of activists marched through central London yesterday in a protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports
A Met Police spokesman said two officers were taken to hospital after protesters turned violent this evening
Some officers were obscured by a cloud of colourful smoke as smoke bombs appeared to be set off during the clashes
They added: ‘ Eight officers were injured as they worked to disperse crowds in Hyde Park
Demonstrations turned violent as police made five arrests over the course of the afternoon and into the evening
Tensions flared as protestors squared up to uniformed officers wearing masks at the clashes in London’s Hyde Park
Smoke grenades appear to have been deployed amid the violent clashes following the protest in London’s streets
One officer was so injured he had to be taken to hospital, the Met Police confirmed, after missiles were thrown at police
An officer is seen esturing to another person off camera as police tried to bring the crowds under control after the protests
As footage emerged showing thousands of placard-wielding protesters take to the streets of London, emergency service workers shared their disappointment online.
John Apter, a serving police officer, tweeted: ‘Thoughts are with my @metpoliceuk colleagues who really are that thin blue line in Hyde Park tonight.
‘Facing provocation, missiles being thrown, cameras being stuffed in their faces and more. People who criticise them from their armchairs wouldn’t last one minute in their shoes.’
John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, continued: ‘These officers are just doing a job, they’re somebody’s son, daughter they’re mums and dads.
‘To be targeted in the way they are says a lot about the society we’ve become. I will continue to do my best to support them but I need Government to do more, much more.’
And Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden wrote: ‘I’ll be honest as an ICU doctor this actually makes me want to cry. A gut punch for NHS staff everywhere tonight. I’m gutted.
‘The thing that tears me up about this is we have been coming out of lockdown slowly to prevent a third wave and further lockdowns. This kind of selfish behaviour risks not only everyone’s safety but further lockdowns.
‘NHS staff are still living through the trauma of the last year. This is a slap in face for all us and for everyone who has lost friends, colleagues and family members. Why can’t these people just go and have a beer in a nice pub garden?’
TV presenter Beverly Turner was among the crowds marching through central London in a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports
Piers Corbyn made an appearance at the protest to complain about the possibility of vaccine passports
Crowds, which included families, did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing masks
Hundred of protesters gathered in London for the Unite for Freedom protest on Saturday afternoon
The anti-lockdown activists made their way through central London in their thousands as part of a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest
Police were seen detaining one of the protestors in London who was wearing a hoodie that read ‘say no to medical tyranny’
A demonstrator holds a placard during an anti-lockdown Unite for Freedom protest, amid the spread of the coronavirus
A demonstrator wore a historic doctor’s mask and ‘biohazard’ tape as he joined protesters in London yesterday
The supporters were protesting against new Covid-19 measures including what they call ‘coerced vaccinations’
Demonstrators made their way through the capital as they waved banners and placards daubed with a range of slogans
Police have said they are aware of plans for a large-scale protest and have increased officer numbers accordingly as protestors made their way through the capital
Demonstrators made their way through the capital earlier today as they waved banners and placards daubed with a range of slogans including ‘no new normal’ and ‘no health passport’
The Metropolitan Police took to Twitter to confirm that authorities were on the scene in London and ‘engaging with those taking part’
The protestors did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing face masks
Demonstrators made their way through the capital earlier today as they waved banners and placards daubed with a range of slogans including one that read: ‘No to vaccine passports’
The protestors marching through the capital did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing face masks
More than half of the UK’s total population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, figures show. NHS England data up to April 23 shows that of the 38,189,536 total doses given in England so far, 28,102,852 were first doses – a rise of 107,656 on the previous day
Demonstrators held banners with messages such as: ‘Covid-19 Vaccine Holocaust’, and: ‘No To Vaccine Passports.’
Another banner read: ‘You don’t need proof to know truth.’
Earlier this month, Britain’s equalities watchdog warned the Government that vaccine passports could be unlawful, create a ‘two-tier society’ and discriminate against migrants, ethnic minorities and the poor.
It comes as the Government said there had been a further 2,061 lab-confirmed cases in the UK – a drop of 7 per cent compared to last week’s figure of 2,206.
In further good news, only 32 new deaths from the disease were recorded – an eight per cent drop on last Saturday’s figure of 35.
And NHS England data up to April 23 shows that of the 38,189,536 total doses given in England so far, 28,102,852 were first doses – a rise of 107,656 on the previous day.
The supporters of the anti-vaccine passport movement are protesting against new COVID-19 measures including what they call ‘coerced vaccinations’.
Among the group were a host of famous faces including TV presenter Beverly Turner as well as London Mayor candidates Piers Corbyn and Laurence Fox.
The Metropolitan Police took to Twitter earlier in the day with a series of posts that read: ‘We have a policing operation in central London today as a result of a number of demonstrations.
‘Anyone coming into London for a protest must make sure their gathering is lawful, with a risk assessment carried out by the organiser. See below our open letter on public gatherings…
‘Officers are on site and are engaging with those taking part.’
Thousands of activists have marched through central London in a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports
London Mayor candidate Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, was also seen taking part in a protest march through central London
Thousands of anti-lockdown activists are marching through central London in a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports
The protestors did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing face masks with one man holding signs that read ‘question everything’ and ‘wake up world’
Crowds gathered in London earlier today in the ‘Unite For Freedom’ protest as one man carried a sign that read: ‘Unmasked, unmuzzled, unvaccinated, unafraid’
The supporters of the movement are protesting against new Covid-19 measures including what they call ‘coerced vaccinations’
The Metropolitan Police took to Twitter to confirm that officers were on the scene and ‘engaging with those taking part’
One protestor wearing a costume who was taking part in the ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest held a sign that read: ‘Wrong is wrong no matter if everyone is doing it. Right is right no matter if no one is doing it’
The protest is in response to ‘Covid-status certificates’ being considered by ministers to help open up society, get people back into work or away on holiday despite concerns from Boris Johnson’s own MPs that they will be ‘intrusive, costly and unnecessary’
The protest is in response to ‘Covid-status certificates’ being considered by ministers to help open up society, get people back into work or away on holiday despite concerns from Boris Johnson’s own MPs that they will be ‘intrusive, costly and unnecessary’.
Recent polling has found the majority of Britons back their use – especially for foreign holidays – but there are wider concerns that they could be used in every facet of life including to get on public transport, into shops, pubs and restaurants.
Earlier this month, the Equality and Human Rights Commission piled pressure on the PM and told the Cabinet Office that while they are a ‘proportionate’ way of easing restrictions, they could also exclude people from everyday life.
One demonstrator dressed in camouflage did not show their face as they took part in the anti-lockdown ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest in London earlier today
Thousands of anti-lockdown activists are marching through central London in a ‘Unite for Freedom’ protest to demand a ban on vaccine passports
The protestors, some of whom set off smoke flares, did not appear to be adhering to social distancing guidelines and were not wearing face masks
The supporters of the movement are protesting against new COVID-19 measures including what they call ‘coerced vaccinations’ as well as the use of face masks
Demonstrators made their way through the capital earlier today as they waved banners and placards daubed with a range of slogans including ‘no new normal’ and ‘no health passport’
One woman walking among the crowds in London held two sheets of A4 paper that read: ‘All I wanna say is… they don’t really care about us’
One protestor attending the demonstration in the capital held a sign that read: ‘We are in the middle of a mass hypnosis’
Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London during a protest against the restrictions and legislations imposed by the Government to control the spread of coronavirus
And they warned that a ‘no jab, no job’ policy could be illegal before the entire population is offered a jab, while plans to force all care workers to be vaccinated could also be subject to a legal challenge.
The EHRC’s submission, seen by the Guardian, says they could cause ‘indirect discrimination’, citing recent migrants to the UK, people from black and minority ethnic groups or those from poorer backgrounds.
‘There is a risk of unlawful discrimination if decisions taken in this process disadvantage people with protected characteristics who have not received, or are not able to receive, the vaccine, unless they can be shown to be justified,’ it said.
Lockdown restrictions in England began easing on April 12 which allowed pubs and restaurants to reopen outdoor seating areas.
The move also paved the way for retail, gyms and beauty salons to reopen.
