West Midlands Police has concluded that an officer who was filmed appearing to punch a female protester during an anti-racism rally in Birmingham's Victoria Square used 'appropriate force' and did nothing wrong. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon as hundreds gathered to oppose a march by the far-right group Britain First, which demanded mass deportations and 'remigration'.
The officer was seen pushing back one protester and then punching a second during heated exchanges near police lines. The short clip, captured by Urban Pictures, has gone viral with thousands of views. Both women appear to be holding a banner in front of the line of officers when struck.
Police Review and Justification
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: 'We received a complaint from a member of the public in relation to an officer’s use of force at a counter protest in Birmingham city centre on Saturday. Officers pushed some of the crowd back after they were told several times to move back and didn’t. Following a review of the footage by our professional standards department it was concluded that an appropriate level of force was used. Our officers faced challenging conditions on the day and worked hard to keep the public safe while ensuring people were able to protest lawfully.'
The police also noted that two officers were kicked and another elbowed during the operation, though none suffered serious injuries. Three female protesters from the anti-racist demonstration were arrested and charged with assaulting police officers, set to appear in court next month. A man arrested on suspicion of obstructing police was released with no further action.
Context of the Protest
The rally saw hundreds of anti-racist protesters in Victoria Square surging towards police lines separating them from far-right activists rallying in nearby Hill Street. Extra officers joined the line to repel the counter-protesters. Those involved in trying to push through police lines expressed anger that they were corralled in Victoria Square while the far-right rally was permitted to march through the city under tight police surveillance. The sight of Britain First supporters marching along Hill Street, flags waving, was deemed 'provocative'. Multiple flashpoints occurred in the 'buffer zone' between the two groups, with police repeatedly ordering counter-protesters to 'get back'. Threats of force were issued and ignored, and at one point police batons were drawn amid fears of being overwhelmed.
Criticism from Birmingham Stand Up To Racism
Birmingham Stand Up To Racism praised the turnout but criticised police handling. They said: 'Unfortunately, the police response fell well short of what Birmingham people might expect. They were not “fair and impartial”. Britain First were allowed to march, whilst the police kettled anti-racists protesters in Victoria Square, at times using heavy handed tactics, and at times violence, to stop us leaving. Furthermore, the police prevented individuals accessing the Britain First rally, but freely allowed far-right video bloggers to repeatedly access Victoria Square to harass and provoke people. We condemn the police violence and the arrests. We are particularly concerned about one incident in which a woman protester appears to have been punched in the face by a police officer.' The group added: 'Stand Up To Racism Birmingham stands in solidarity with the four protesters that were arrested and with those injured by the police. Birmingham remains a proudly anti-fascist, anti-racist city.'
