Eight people have been charged with rioting following the first Kill the Bill protest in Bristol.

They will appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 28 May in connection the riot that saw 500 people march on Bridewell police station on 21 March.

A ninth person has been charged with outraging public decency, Avon and Somerset Police said.

The “Kill the Bill” protesters were demonstrating against the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed new powers to tackle demonstrations.

But what started as a peaceful protest turned violent and multiple arrests were made.

The charges are as follows:

Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said: “The decision to charge people with riot is a significant development in what remains one of the largest investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police.

“In each case, the Crown Prosecution Service has received a file of evidence gathered by our investigation team and has authorised the charge of riot to be brought. The proper judicial process will now run its course.

“We remain resolute in our commitment to fully investigate offences committed in the vicinity of Bridewell police station and the wider city centre on the evening of Sunday 21 March and we anticipate there will be further people charged in the coming days and weeks as we continue to make further progress.”

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