Around 100 protesters and 250 counter-protesters clashed at the weekendHundreds of anti fascist protestors clash with police in central BristolHundreds of anti fascist protestors clash with police in central Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

Three people arrested at a demonstration in Bristol have been released.

A total of five people were arrested on Saturday, May 17, when protesters calling for “mass deportations” and counter-protesters with Antifascism Action banners clashed near the Cenotaph.

Around 100 people from the UK Independence Party (UKIP) were met by around 250 counter-demonstrators.

Avon and Somerset Police were on duty during the protests and five people were arrested on Saturday.

Three of these have since been released with no further action taken, a force spokesperson said in an update.

Two others were given out-of-court disposals.

Avon and Somerset Police said on Saturday that a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, a 25-year-old man on suspicion of theft and a further two women and a man on suspicion of breach of the peace.

More than 160 officers were deployed to the scene, including drone, dog and horse units, and officers from the cycle team.

Click here to join our WhatsApp groupPrivacy Notice

Silver Commander for the protest, Ch Insp Jason Sims said both groups were “calm” and “engaged with officers,” but added there were a “handful of clashes between the two sides”.

“I would like to take the opportunity to praise the officers and staff involved in the policing of this event,” he said.

“The feedback I have received so far is that officers acted professionally and proportionately to keep the members of the public safe and to facilitate the protests.

“A large number of our officers cancelled their days off with their loved ones to facilitate the policing of this event, which enabled us to keep the public safe, and I cannot thank them enough for making that personal sacrifice.”

UKIP protesters met near the Colson Statue from around 1pm on Saturday, with the counter-demonstrators gathering at the Cenotaph at 11.30am.

Both sides had dispersed by around 3.45pm and both St Augustine’s Parade and Colson Avenue were closed until shortly before 4pm.

Get the latest local news, sport & business from Bristol by subscribing to our daily breaking newsletter