London anti-lockdown protests: Met Police Federation chief says officers are ‘human beings’ after eight injured

‘Colleagues have every right to go home to their families at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital’, Ken Marsh says

A police leader has said officers are “human beings who go out every day” to keep the public safe, after eight were injured in anti-lockdown protests in London.

The chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation said “many people” appear to have forgotten this.

It comes after eight police officers were injured after violence broke out at a protest against coronavirus lockdown restrictions attended by thousands in the capital on Saturday.

Bottles were thrown at officers trying to disperse crowds in Hyde Park in the evening at the end of the “Unite for Freedom” demonstration.

Two officers were hospitalised but not believed to be seriously injured, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Photographs posted on social media showed a female police officer bleeding from a cut to her head while another suffered a similar wound on his forehead.

The Metropolitan Police Federation – which represents thousands of rank-and-file Scotland Yard officers – said it would be raising scenes from Hyde Park with Met senior management “with utmost urgency”.

"The safety of our police officers should be top of the agenda. We wish all our injured colleagues a swift recovery and will be supporting them as best as we can,” its chair, Ken Marsh, said.

The Met said five people were arrested for offences including assault on police and public order offences.

Protesters gathered in central London for a ‘Unite For Freedom’ demonstration against lockdown restrictions (Getty Images)

"Peaceful protest may well be the cornerstone of democracy – and police officers have a role in facilitating that – but the scenes we saw in Hyde Park yesterday of a thin blue line of brave and sadly bloodied police officers coming under attack from thugs were anything but peaceful,” Mr Marsh said.

He added: "Police officers are human beings who go out every day to keep people safe. Many people seem to have forgotten that right now but we will keep reminding them.

“Our colleagues have every right to go home to their families at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital."

The Met described the violence as “small pockets of disorder” which broke out after the organised event finished at 6.30pm.

An estimated 10,000 joined the “Unite for Freedom” march through the capital to oppose measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Crowds gathered in London to protest against lockdown restrictions (Getty Images)

Protesters – mostly not wearing face coverings – carried signs and marched through London chanting “freedom” and “take off your mask”.

Images from Hyde Park showed protesters holding placards reading “you don’t need proof to know the truth”, “no to vaccine passports” and “the people refuse your totalitarian state agenda”.

Anti-lockdown protests have taken place in London over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, including in recent months.

Saturday’s protest came just weeks after England relaxed lockdown restrictions, allowing more businesses – such as gyms and non-essential shops – to reopen and people to socialise outside in groups of six or two households.

Restrictions on indoor gatherings and international travel will be lifted in mid-May at the earliest, while the final stage of the roadmap out of lockdown – which will see all legal limits on social contact lifted – is planned for no earlier than June.

Additional reporting by Press Association