A WOMAN has been arrested after protesters marched through the city to demonstrate against a controversial government bill.
Police responded to a woman sitting and blocking the A259 at Brighton, at the junction with Madeira Drive at about 2.45 pm yesterday.
Officers engaged with the woman, who refused to move on.
She was safely detained and arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway and possession of cannabis.
She remains in police custody at this stage.
READ MORE >> Pictures: 'Kill the Bill' brings city centre to standstill
Hundreds of people caused "temporary disruption" throughout the city yesterday as they marched through the city streets in a Kill the Bill protest.
Buses were stuck on North Street for more than 30 minutes as protesters held a sit-in near the Jubilee Clock Tower in Brighton.
Passengers were spotted getting off the buses and leaving on foot as the drumming group sparked a flash-mob like dance party in the middle of the junction.
A spokesman from Sussex Police said: "A protest involving hundreds of people took place in Brighton on Saturday 3 April.
"The group gathered at The Level about 1pm, before making its way to Brighton Police Station in John Street and continuing through the city.
"Bus and taxi operators experienced some temporary disruption in the city centre, but the wider community was largely unaffected.
"Police responded to a woman sitting and blocking the A259 at Brighton, at the junction with Madeira Drive, about 2.45pm.
"Officers engaged with the woman, who refused to move on, and she was safely detained and arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway and possession of cannabis.
"She remains in police custody at this stage.
"Officers engaged with protesters throughout the afternoon, and the event otherwise concluded without significant incident."
The controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill looks to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage of less than £5,000 to a memorial from three months to ten years’ imprisonment - the same maximum sentence for non-sexual child abuse.
It would also grant police additional powers to restrict protests by imposing start and finish times and setting noise limits. These limitations could be applied to a protest involving a single person.
It is these plans in particular that have sparked widespread criticism, with many claiming they represent an infringement on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.
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