Riot police confront pro-hunt demonstrators

Wednesday, 15 September 2004 12:00 AM

Police in riot gear have been called to keep the peace, as a pro-hunting demonstration in central London turned violent.

What had been a primarily peaceful protest outside Parliament all day turned hostile at about 15:30 BST this afternoon, shortly before MPs met to decide whether to ban hunting across the country.

About 4000 people had congregated around Westminster with placards stating that they would not abide by any law that may be passed today.

Members of the Countryside Alliance descended on London from across the country for an organised rally and all seemed to be peaceful for the vast majority of the day.

But a small group of protestors on the corner of Parliament Square clashed with police after flares went off and missiles were thrown at the assembled officers.

Riot police were then called in and formed a blockade as the group of protestors seemed to become increasingly angry.

The demonstrators surged towards police line and a number were hit with batons as officers struggled to contain the protest.

A number of protestors were seen covered in blood with head injuries and wounds to the rest of their body.

In a statement the Metropolitan Police said that at around 15.45 a small number of people attempted to break the cordon in the south-west section of Parliament Square.

Describing the incident, it said: "police officers came under fire from items thrown from the crowd, including barriers; however we have maintained the cordon despite the actions of a small minority."

Police reinforcements, including officers in riot gear, have now been called into the area.

The Countryside Alliance has sought to disassociate itself from the violence, but its spokesman said that the disruption "results from prejudice".

Commenting on the incident, Simon Hart, said: "We do not condone any lawbreaking of any kind, but DEFRA Minister Alun Michael inflamed the situation this morning by admitting that the Government is banning hunting as part of some sort of electoral game".

Simon Hart of the Countryside Alliance said: "The scenes of disruption in Westminster are unfortunate and unnecessary, but when the Labour party is destroying people's lives in some perverted game of political football, they are not surprising."

The Hunting Bill is expected to make it way through Commons stages today before proceeding to the second chamber.

Peter Hain, Leader of the House, said he expected the Bill to pass through all of the Commons stages in a single sitting. The Bill will get its first reading in the House of Lords tomorrow.

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