Bristol campaigner calls for accountability from police over "Kill the Bill" riot
Five years on, campaigners are calling for Avon and Somerset Police to address its actions during the protest
As Bristol marks the fifth anniversary of the notorious Kill the Bill riots this weekend (21st March), campaigner Heidi Gedge is calling for Avon and Somerset Police to be held accountable for their role in the events that unfolded.
Gedge, whose close family member was handed a five-year jail sentence, insists the police used "unnecessary violence" during the protest, and is advocating for a re-examination of their actions.
Reflecting on the personal impact, she said, “I was just completely distraught that it could happen to somebody who I know so well and as much as I tried, I couldn’t do anything to help. People need to have their freedom and fundamental rights restored.”
Gedge believes that the efforts to suppress the protest were intended to discourage future demonstrations. "They want this whole thing to be made an example of, to make it more difficult in the future for people to protest. People are scared. People are thinking I really want to stand up for my rights but I can’t because I might end up being charged for riot,” she said.
In response, Avon and Somerset Police have defended their actions.
A police spokesperson said, “We reject any suggestion we did not facilitate peaceful demonstrations on the day of the riot. Our officers faced real violence and hostility as they put themselves on the line to keep the public safe and restore order, as a minority of people engaged in wanton violence, damage and disorder.”
Police investigations into over 40 individuals have resulted in sentences totalling more than 112 years for those involved in criminal acts during the riot. Evidence from Body Worn Video, CCTV, and online footage has supported these prosecutions, according to the force.
They rejected any claims of failing to support peaceful demonstrations, highlighting instances of real violence and hostility faced by officers during the midnight uproar.
Following the riots, 11 formal complaints regarding officer conduct were reviewed, with the Professional Standards Department deeming the service level acceptable.
The original demonstrations began as peaceful marches but erupted into violence as night fell, with riot police confronting crowds, projectiles thrown, and police vehicles set ablaze.
The anniversary brings renewed calls for scrutiny into the policing methods used during the events, as campaigners like Heidi Gedge continue their efforts to ensure accountability and rights protection for all individuals involved.