A police officer was taken to hospital after being hit by a firework during a protest in Caerphilly, Wales, on Thursday night. The officer sustained burns and was treated at hospital, with Gwent Police condemning the incident as “unacceptable”.
Protest outside property in Lansbury Park
Officers in riot gear with shields formed a barrier as people protested outside a property in Snowden Court in Lansbury Park, Caerphilly. According to WalesOnline, the gathering is understood to have taken place at the address of a person recently found not guilty of sex offences at a Crown Court trial.
Superintendent Ryan Francis, of Gwent Police, said his officers had been put in “danger” by some of the protesters. He said: “Some of the behaviour displayed by those attending this gathering was unacceptable putting those in the area, including our officers, in danger.”
Police response and ongoing enquiries
The senior officer added: “We will always balance the public’s right to gather or protest with that of public safety. While the right to protest peacefully is fundamental to democracy, organisers of such events have a duty to ensure that they are held within the law. One of our officers was taken to hospital for treatment for burns after a firework had been thrown towards them.”
Francis continued: “Officers turn up to work every day to protect our communities, and the violence and aggression displayed last night should not be dismissed as ‘part of the job’. Enquiries are ongoing and those found to have committed offences — on the night or in the lead up to the gathering — will be dealt with.”
A spokesperson for the force said “bottles and fireworks” were thrown towards an address while officers attended the protest. No arrests were made on the night, and the crowd was dispersed.
