Police chief fears further violence after Bristol ‘kill the bill’ protest
March 22, 2021, 12:16 pm

Police chief fears further violence after Bristol ‘kill the bill’ protest

The Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees, says the lawlessness would be ‘used as evidence and promote the need’ for the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill.

Avon and Somerset chief constable says clashes could be repeated across UK

The Avon and Somerset chief constable has expressed concern that the scenes of violence in Bristol, in which 20 officers were injured, could be repeated in the city and elsewhere in the country in the coming weeks.

Seven people have been arrested so far following the “kill the bill” demonstration in Bristol, which included protesters stoning a police station and setting fire to police vehicles, but Andy Marsh said the force was hunting scores more. The police are due to release the first images of suspects on Monday evening.

Marsh took part in a conference call with the home secretary, Priti Patel, and the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, on Monday morning.

“We’re all worried,” he told the Guardian. “We’ve talked about reflections on what happened in Bristol and what we need to do to reassure communities and keep our communities safe in Bristol and across the country. Over the next few weeks it’s a very difficult time in policing.”

Marsh called the scenes “criminality and thuggery” and said “hundreds or thousands” of criminal acts took place in Bristol on Sunday night and Monday morning. He said: “We know these groups come from across the whole country. We know they are connected. I imagine some are from Bristol some from further afield.”

The chief constable confirmed that the protest had included one person defecating at the feet of officers. “They were disgraceful scenes. People will draw their own conclusions.”

Marsh said one of those injured suffered a collapsed or punctured lung after being stamped on, and the other had broken bones. He added: “Neighbourhood officers, police community support officers were trapped inside this building with people on the roofs firing fireworks at them, hurling projectiles at them.”

Marsh said up to 3,000 people had taken part in demonstrations against plans to give police increased powers to shut down peaceful protests. He said they included a group of up to 500 people “who really were intent on violence, damage and criminality”.

After 6pm on Sunday evening, they began throwing stones at Bridewell neighbourhood police station in central Bristol. Marsh said 12 police vehicles had been damaged and the station’s toughened glass windows had been broken. By Monday lunchtime, workers were still clearing up the area.

Marsh defended the policing of the demonstration. He said the group that had been sitting down creating a scene outside the Bridewell police station had been, by the assessment of his team, looking for a trigger to provoke a violent response.

Politicians of all sides have condemned the violence. The home secretary, Priti Patel, said “thuggery and disorder” would not be tolerated. The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, described the scenes as “awful” and “shocking”, tweeting: “There is no excuse whatsoever for this violence. Thinking of those officers who have been injured, and their families, and wishing them a swift recovery.”

Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees, said the violence was counterproductive to the campaign against the government’s plans to give police more powers against protesters as part of the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I am from communities who are disproportionately likely to be on the receiving end of the criminal justice system and receive unfair treatment. What they have done has done nothing to make me, and people like me, safer. This was selfish self-indulgence, self-centred violence.”

Rees said that rather than stopping government plans to increase police powers, the “lawlessness on show” would be “used as evidence and promote the need for the bill”.

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he said: “I draw a hard line between those people out smashing up my city yesterday and the bill. They’ve got nothing to do with the bill.

“Experience would suggest that there are a group of people running around the country looking for any opportunity to enter into physical conflict with the police or representatives of what they see as the establishment, whether it’s the bill, whether it’s some other protest, they’ll take the opportunity. Let’s do the debate around a bill, justice, and not attach it to these people who’ve gone out and tried to smash up my city.”

However, there was also some support for the protesters. Rachel Legg, a 51-year-old carer who witnessed but did not take part in the violence at the police station, said: “I’m not surprised. They all seemed to be in their 20s. That is an angry generation.

“They are facing a planet that is dying, a home secretary that wants to hang people, the rent in Bristol is horrendous and they have no job prospects. It’s not about a bunch of thugs taking part in a protest, there’s a bigger picture people need to understand. Nobody is looking after this generation.”

source: Steven Morris

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.