Luke Pollard MP appeared on BBC Sunday Politics this weekend to air his concerns at the decision to identify Plymouth Hoe as a designated protest location for this year’s G7 summit. Devon and Cornwall have chosen the Hoe as one of four police-approved sites in the South West where protesters can gather in opposition to the summit, which will take place in Carbis Bay in June.

Luke Pollard MP:

“Plymouth Hoe is our crown jewel of tourist locations. To get to Plymouth Hoe, you have to travel through the city centre through our Barbican, past war memorials and statues. 

 

I think it’s the wrong location – it’s hard to police. It is a disaster waiting to happen. I want the police to consider moving the protest to Central Park which has more space and is a location that is familiar to the police because of policing Argyle games at Home Park.”

Luke has written to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police urging them to reconsider, also appearing on ITV and BBC news programmes over the weekend to explain his concern at the planned protest location. 

Mr Pollard added:

“I support the right to peaceful protest … but I am very worried that if protests at former G7 summits are anything to go by, the Hoe could be trashed and people could get hurt.”

You can watch Luke Pollard MP’s full Sunday Politics interview on the matter below.