Police officer punched in city protest

TWO police officers were injured and one arrest was made during a demonstration yesterday in Leeds city centre against Government cuts which saw protesters stopped from storming into a bank.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Jan 2011, 09:37 BST

An 18-year-old from Crossgates, Leeds, was arrested on suspicion of committing a public order offence, a police officer was punched and a police community support officer suffered a minor hand injury. Police also stopped protesters from getting into a Lloyds TSB bank branch in Park Row.

The protest, involving around 40 people, started outside the Corn Exchange and moved through the city centre before being escorted toward Leeds University.

Protesters were voicing opposition to the Government’s abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance paid to 16- to 19-year-olds from the poorest backgrounds to help them stay in school or college.

Jayne Dowle: Page 13.