Met chief 'wrong' about first protest

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has admitted to getting the policing of the student protest two weeks ago 'wrong' but claims they were right in the other demonstration.

Sir Paul Stephenson said: "The bottom line is that we didn't get it right two weeks ago but we did get it right yesterday."

Tens of thousands of students were joined by lecturers and parents during a national day of action against the controversial changes.

Organisers said the marches, occupations and sit-ins were an opportunity for protesters to make their voices heard peacefully.

But Westminster bore the brunt of lawlessness a fortnight after the Millbank riot as two police officers and 11 people were injured.

Scotland Yard said that 32 people had been arrested in connection with the protests. Most of them were arrested for public order offences and criminal damage.

The clashes centred around a stranded police van that was ransacked and looted a short distance from the entrance to Downing Street.

Police were forced to "kettle" hundreds of protesters for around four hours a short distance from the Houses of Parliament as tensions ran high.

Thousands also joined protest marches in Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton as pupils walked out of school in Winchester, Cambridge, Leeds and London.

Meanwhile students occupied buildings in Oxford, Birmingham, Cambridge, Bristol, Plymouth and in the capital.

Two protesters were arrested in Cambridge for obstruction, one in Liverpool for egg throwing and four in Manchester for public order offences and obstruction. Two people, a 15-year-old boy and 41-year-old man, were also arrested in Brighton.

In London, protesters had planned to demonstrate outside the Liberal Democrat headquarters, after leaders said they will break a pledge to abolish tuition fees.