Police confirm no arrests after over 1,000 protesters attend Sheffield ‘Kill the Bill’ demo

A ‘Kill the Bill’ demo in Sheffield attended by 1,000 people passed peacefully and without any arrests being made, according to South Yorkshire Police.
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Chief Inspector Paul Ferguson said: “Today, 27 March 2021 around 1000 people visited Sheffield City Centre to voice their opinions and demonstrate their beliefs.

In a statement issued after Saturday’s protest, the police force said: “Previously the group have gathered and worked alongside us and responded to our requests to protest safely.“We saw numbers peak around 2pm, that group then walked around the city centre, causing some disruption to the otherwise, quiet city centre.

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“Our officers assisted with the control of traffic to reduce the impact on motorists.

Around 1,000 people took part in a 'Kill the Bill' demonstration in Sheffield last weekendAround 1,000 people took part in a 'Kill the Bill' demonstration in Sheffield last weekend
Around 1,000 people took part in a 'Kill the Bill' demonstration in Sheffield last weekend

“No arrests were made and those who attended did so peacefully.”

The demonstration started on Devonshire Green before turning into a march around the city centre with sit-downs on the street outside the police station on Snig Hill and the the Town Hall, where protesters voiced their concerns about the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will give police more powers to restrict and criminalise protests.

The Bill contains a number of sentencing reforms such as stopping the automatic early release of offenders deemed to pose a danger to members of the public mid way through their sentences.

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Life sentences for killer drivers feature in the Bill along with Whole Life Orders for the premeditated murder of a child.

The Bill gives police more powers around protests, with a new offence of ‘intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance’ included.

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