Three women have been charged after allegedly assaulting police officers while policing opposing rallies in Birmingham city centre. The accused, identified as part of a counter-protest responding to the far-right group Britain First's arrival, are scheduled to appear in court next month.
Incident Details
Counter-protesters filled Victoria Square on Saturday, June 20, as Britain First held a demonstration. West Midlands Police deployed a significant presence to separate the two groups. During the operation, two officers were reportedly kicked and a third was elbowed, according to police statements. The officers did not sustain serious injuries.
Erin Dawson, 27, of no fixed address; Linda Stupart, 42, of no fixed address; and Hazel Murphy, 28, from Birmingham, were arrested from the counter-protest and charged with assaulting police. A man also arrested from the counter-protest on suspicion of obstructing police has been released with no further action.
Police Statement
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Three women have been charged after officers were assaulted while policing protests in Birmingham. We had a significant police presence in the city centre yesterday as part of a planned operation for a protest and counter-protest. 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."
The spokesperson added: "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."
Legal Proceedings
All three women are due to appear in court next month. The charges stem from the counter-protest, which police say was a response to Britain First's presence in Birmingham. No further details on the court date have been released.
