Protester arrested as students join march

Police arrested one protester and removed students who occupied a Leeds University building yesterday as a leading officer warned that a "significant minority" taking part in a demonstration wanted to cause disruption to the city.

Large marches took place in both Leeds and Sheffield as university, college and school students joined another national day of action protesting against the plans to triple tuition fees and cut education funding.

West Yorkshire Police arrested one man in connection with a public order offence and also helped to remove a group of protesters who took part in an "impromptu occupation" of Leeds University's Arnold and Marjorie Ziff building.

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In Sheffield police prevented a march from gathering directly outside the constituency office of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg – who has become a focal point of student anger because of his pledge before the election to oppose any increase in fees.

Students who walked from Sheffield city centre were held around 40 yards away from the Liberal Democrat leader's Sheffield Hallam office because of fears for the safety of children at a nearby nursery.

In Leeds students who have been occupying a lecture hall at the Michael Sadler building for a week returned there after the march and vowed to continue their protest.

Occupation spokesman Ian Pattison hailed yesterday's march as a success but complained that police had used heavy-handed tactics despite the protest being "the most subdued and peaceful I have ever been involved in."

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The march did not gather outside banks as the organisers had planned and a group of around 30 protesters were involved in a dispute with police over their route.

Chief Supt Mark Milsom, of the City and Holbeck Division, said: "The demonstration took place without any prior arrangement or co-operation with police, which meant we had to quickly react to events as they developed.

The vast majority of protesters remained peaceful throughout the course of events, although a significant minority were determined to disrupt businesses and citizens within the city centre.

"There was an impromptu occupation of the Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Building by about 40 students, with minor damage caused to a sensor and the fire alarm set off. Further damage was caused to a glass door after a security guard tried to close it to prevent students entering.

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Officers worked in conjunction with the university's security staff to arrange for students to leave the building."

Central London was brought to a standstill again yesterday as students took to the streets in protest. A short rally was held in Trafalgar Square but the planned march to Parliament did not take place.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, the man responsible for introducing the tuition fee rises, has said he will abstain from the vote on the policy if that is what fellow Liberal Democrat MPs decide as a group.