As around 200 people attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Chippenham, five specially trained police officers from Swindon and Salisbury were called in to help keep the event peaceful.
Police Liason Officers (PLOs), who wear a calming sky blue uniform, attend protests and other mass gatherings where disorder is possible. They provide an approachable presence and form links between organisations, participants and those against the cause in an attempt to stop any incidents before they even begin – though conversation and other tactics.
In Market Place, Chippenham, yesterday afternoon the officers were kept busy at the largely peaceful protest, forced to deal with a number of people.
Three officers needed to speak to a man on a bench outside the Bear Hotel, where he was deliberating being rowdy, shouting and laughing during speeches and clapping at the protest.
One officer was called over by a protest to a woman, thought to be in her 50s, who began talking about black people, using the opening line: ‘I like black people, but…’. Though, it’s believed she may have had a learning disability and moved on of her own accord within one minute.
As people took to the mic to share their heartbreaking stories about racism they’ve experienced, a street drinker made himself at home in The Buttercross. He swigged wine from a bottle, laughed repeatedly and claimed to have coronavirus when spoken to by a PLO.
He was asked to stop drinking and making inappropriate noises but continued. Local police were called to the scene after he was escorted away from the event by three PLOs. They led him from the area.
Despite drinking alcohol in the town centre being illegal, it’s not believed any action was taken.
