28/03/2011

Spending Cuts Protesters Charged

Police have arrested 201 people in connection with the disorder in central London on Saturday

over anti-spending cuts.

Of that figure 149 people have been charged with various offences.

After the TUC march, a number of shop premises and banks were damaged. Police Officers were also attacked.

Cdr Bob Broadhurst said police "did their best" to respond to troublemakers, but added: "We just cannot protect every building."

He said: "We will be studying all the CCTV, all the stills photography, we will be interviewing people. We will be coming looking for you. If you have committed violence or (caused) damage we will be arresting you fairly soon."

Home Office Minister Nick Herbert said: "They (police) had a difficult job on Saturday because there were a very large number of people who were demonstrating, the vast majority entirely peacefully, but a small minority were bent on violence, criminal damage and trespass."

Vince Cable, Business Secretary said the government would not be changing its economic strategy due to the TUC protest.

Around 250,000 to 500,000 people attended the march.

(BMcN/GK)






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