The most sureal protest of the year took place yesterday. Police officers from across Britain gathered around parliament to protest at reforms to the police service proposed by the home secretary, David Blunkett. Banned from actually demonstrating in uniform or with placards, hundreds of men with skintight haircuts loitered around Westminster seeking more money.

The police brass band complete with plastic 'bobbie' helmets drafted in for the day were drowned out when an assortment of Globalisation, enviromental and social justice campaigners turned up with a Samba band. As the media descended upon the activists, d signs were displayed with "Remember the Miners" slogans and others highlighing oppressive policing of protests. Full report.

Meanwhile another police demonstration took place in Barcelona.