A policing operation costing hundreds of thousands of pounds will not result in a single person being punished.

Eight people were arrested following the Smash EDO May Day protest in Brighton in April.

Hundreds of police officers from several forces were deployed to keep calm on the streets as about 200 protesters caused chaos in the city centre.

Sussex Police had charged two men in connection with the May Day protest but both have now had the cases against them dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

During the protest, police used powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to require protesters to remove their masks.

Charges

Michael Cutting, 29, of Hanover Terrace in Brighton, was charged with refusing to remove a face mask and having items used to destroy or damage property.

Owen Leweis, 31, of Biggin Hill, Kent, had been charged with assault and obstructing a police officer.

But both have now been released from bail and told no action will be taken against them.

Policing Smash EDO’s high profile protests – including the regular May Day event which attracts demonstrators from around the region – is thought to have cost Sussex Police more than £300,000.

About 200 police officers were deployed to the protest on April 29, including mounted officers.

The demonstration caused significant delays to buses within the city centre.

Distruption

At the time city centre traders said that disruption caused by the protest had devastated their business.

Activists complained that the police used heavy handed tactics and kettling in a bid to restore order.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said they could not comment on the reasons why the cases had been dropped.

She added: “There are no more remaining suspects on bail.”

A CPS spokesperson said in the case of Cutting: “The case was re-reviewed in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors and we decided that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.”

More news from The Argus

The Argus: Daily Echo on Facebook - facebook.com/southerndailyecho Like us on Facebook

The Argus: Google+ Add us to your circles on Google+