THE recent peaceful demonstration by students unhappy at the raising of tuition fees to up to £9,000 is very understandable.

One can only feel concerned for them, especially as the Liberal Democrat Party pledged to not raise them in the General Election.

However, the following disgraceful scenes in London when the Commons voted were avoidable.

Assaulting the police who were only doing their duty, pulling them from their horses and destroying property was unforgivable, and to see the statue of the great Prime Minster Winston Churchill covered in graffiti and the wonderful Cenotaph defaced and urinated on was horrific.

Instead of using excuses for their disgraceful behaviour, they should all be begging forgiveness.

Then finally attacking Prince Charles and Camilla was shocking and I’m afraid, like thousands of others in the UK, I now have no sympathy with them at all.

One final thought – instead of our brave police force having to stand and face abuse and assault, why are they not allowed to turn water cannons on aggressive demonstrators, as they do in many other countries?

Bryan R Lawson, Burton Fields Road, Stamford Bridge.