West Midlands Police are reviewing viral footage that appears to show an officer punching a woman carrying a banner during a confrontation at a fractious anti-racism protest in Birmingham on Saturday. The incident occurred in Victoria Square as counter-protestors surged towards police lines separating them from far-right activists rallying in nearby Hill Street.
Footage Under Review
The footage, shot by multiple sources including bloggers and independent observers, has been viewed thousands of times online. It shows a male officer stepping forward to strike one woman protestor and then punch a second woman protestor during a melee at the edge of Victoria Square. Both women appear to be standing with a banner in front of the line of officers when they are struck. West Midlands Police confirmed they are aware of the video and are reviewing the content.
Heated Exchanges
The altercation occurred as around 800 counter-protestors gathered in Victoria Square to oppose a rally by the far-right group Britain First, which had around 200 attendees led by party leader Paul Golding. Counter-protestors expressed anger at being corralled in Victoria Square while the far-right rally was permitted to walk through the city under tight police surveillance. The distant sight of Britain First supporters marching along Hill Street, flags waving, was deemed 'provocative' by those involved.
Police Response
During multiple flashpoints in the 'buffer zone' between the two groups, police repeatedly ordered counter-protestors to 'get back'. Threats of force were issued and ignored. At one point, police batons were drawn amid fears of officers being overwhelmed. Eventually, order was restored. In a statement, police said: "Two of our officers were kicked and another was elbowed, as they worked to keep the two protest groups apart. Thankfully, the officers did not suffer serious injuries." A man arrested from the counter-protest on suspicion of obstructing police has been released with no further action.
Arrests and Charges
Three women involved in the anti-racist demonstration were arrested and face charges of assaulting police officers. They will appear at court next month. The force stated: "We never tolerate violence against our officers, who were in place yesterday to keep the peace and prevent disorder, ensuring the safety of everyone in the city centre."
