Today’s demonstration presented a challenge for the city in terms of balancing people’s right to protest, which police in the UK uphold, and the social distancing restrictions put in place to protect us all during the coronavirus health emergency.
Police estimate around 4,000 took part in this afternoon’s protest.
The protesters were loud and passionate, and made their voices clearly heard, but there were no arrests and no disorder.
Police said:
This afternoon’s protest in Birmingham city centre
We appreciate that today’s gathering was much larger than is allowed by those regulations, but we have consistently said that our approach is to engage, explain and encourage people, and we will only enforce the regulations when absolutely necessary.
We put in place a proportionate policing plan for this protest, which involved a small number of officers in place to engage with the protesters.
We will continue to work with communities and those taking part in any future protests wherever possible to ensure people’s safety.
We ask that people continue to work with officers at this challenging time.
West Midlands Police, and our colleagues around the country, stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: “West Midlands Police have taken a sensible approach to facilitating peaceful protests. Members of my office, including my Deputy Commissioner oversaw the policing operation.
“This is a cause that I am very supportive of. I am pleased that the protest has concluded without incident.”