Police in Bristol ‘feel under siege’ after second night of unrest
March 24, 2021, 12:24 pm

Police in Bristol ‘feel under siege’ after second night of unrest

Police and protesters at College Green in Bristol on Tuesday night.

Rank-and-file officers’ leader says colleagues ‘battered and bruised’ after protest turned violent

Police officers in Bristol feel “under siege” and the task of controlling demonstrations during a lockdown is proving “near-on impossible”, a leader of rank-and-file officers has said following a second night of protests in the city.

On Tuesday night, public order officers moved protesters away from College Green in the city, where about 200 people had gathered for a second “kill the bill” demonstration. Fourteen arrests were made.

The protest came two days after a peaceful demonstration against the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill erupted into violence with a police station attacked, 21 officers injured and police vehicles set alight.

The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter, said: “I really feel for my colleagues in Bristol. There is a sense that you really feel under siege. And for some, whatever they do, is not enough and for others, it’s too much.”

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Apter said the second outbreak of unrest fell on the day most of the country was remembering those who had lost their lives in the Covid pandemic.

He said: “This was on an evening where the vast majority of the country were remembering those many thousands of people who have been lost to this horrible virus, so it was not good scenes to see, and this was on the back of the most horrendous violence that we’d seen on Sunday evening.

“So my colleagues are battered and bruised, in some cases physically. We’ve got a number of officers who were injured on Sunday evening, some very seriously. This is completely unacceptable, completely unacceptable.”

Apter said policing protests during the Covid-19 pandemic was “near-on impossible” and called for clarity from the government. “Policing can never be perfect. It’s dynamic, it’s dangerous. We have to think on our feet,” he said.

“We don’t have the luxury, when we’re dealing with these protests which are unfolding, of the benefit of hindsight. We have to deal with what’s in front of us.

“And I do feel that, I’m not saying we always get it right … But I do feel that policing is all too often, especially over these last 12 months, my colleagues are hung out to dry, and they feel very vulnerable.”

Apter said police officers feel “betrayed and let down” by not having been prioritised to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

“I strongly believe and I still maintain that police officers and frontline police staff should have been prioritised for the vaccine. I’ve raised it formally with the government, with the home secretary, and we do feel bitterly, bitterly let down.”

Avon and Somerset police said officers had attempted to engage with demonstrators on Tuesday night and asked them to move on.

The force said: “Officers had engaged with protesters and asked them to move on but tents and a sound system were set up. We remain in lockdown and we cannot allow this gathering to continue.”One of the focuses of the protest was the potential for the bill to criminalise Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Public order officers from Avon and Somerset, British Transport Police, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Dyfed Powys, Gloucestershire, Gwent and Wiltshire were deployed to disperse protesters at 10pm.

Specialist police dog units, horses, the National Police Air Service and a police drone unit were also involved in the operation.

A police spokesperson said: “While many left the area, a significant number gathered on Deanery Road and refused to disperse. A total of 14 people were arrested for offences including breaches of Covid-19 legislation and obstruction of a highway. One of those detained were also arrested for offences connected with the violent disorder in the city on Sunday.”

Ch Supt Claire Armes said: “Officers had engaged with protesters and asked them to disperse, but tents and a sound system were set up so it was abundantly clear they were intent on remaining at the location, in spite of legislation in place to protect public health.

“After the scenes of violence witnessed in the city at the weekend it was necessary to bring in additional resources from our neighbouring forces to ensure the protest was safely brought to a swift conclusion.

“Throughout the operation officers continued to urge protesters to move on – at no time were they contained – but there came a time when enforcement was necessary as gatherings are still not permitted.”

Armes added: “It’s disappointing that officers needed to take this action on a day we should be remembering all those who’ve lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past year.

“The communities of Bristol have made too many sacrifices and worked so hard to defeat this virus, it’s unacceptable for people to insult their efforts in this way.”

source: Steven Morris

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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.