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🧵1/ “A reckless, dangerous and racist policing operation” The policing of Brighton’s Carnival Against Fascism: netpol.org/2026/08/07/o...

2/ Finding 1: Dangerous Crowd Crushing Police pushed Brighton anti-racists into densely packed crowds. Police ignored warnings people couldn't breathe, had fallen and were being trampled. One officer lost consciousness in the crush.

3/ Finding 2 — Kettling and route-clearing for the far right From the outset, police's priority was clearing a path for the far-right march.

4/ Finding 3 — Extensive and disproportionate force Baton strikes. PAVA spray at close range, without warning. Choking, hair-pulling, kicking, punching. This caused serious, enduring injuries.

5/ Finding 4 — Disproportionate impact on marginalised protesters Force was repeatedly used against disabled, older and younger protesters and women, including accounts of sexual assault by officers and a blind protester’s white cane being snapped and thrown to the ground.

6/ Finding 5 — An absence of accountability Force used against legal observers. An assault staged for the camera. PAVA spray use denied — despite video evidence. Complainants asked for identifying photos.

7/ This report should be read as a warning The police violence was the direct consequence of a strategy built around facilitating a far-right demonstration through a city that had mobilised overwhelmingly against it.