The organiser of yesterday's protest event in Falmouth has spoken out against claims made online over social distancing and police enforcement.

Dr Misri Dey, a senior lecturer at Falmouth University in theatre and acting, organised the We Can't Breathe - A Nine Minute Kneel event at Kimberley Park, in response to the recent events in Minneapolis, USA, when African-American man George Floyd died while handcuffed and lying face down in police custody in the street.

Police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck Mr Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds, despite his repeated pleas of “I can’t breathe”.

Dr Dey was also behind a number of smaller events at Tuckingmill Valley Park, Mousehole, Penzance and virtually on Zoom, supported by the Camborne Redruth and Hayle Labour Party and the Truro and Falmouth Labour Party.

Read more: Huge crowds gather in Falmouth to protest the death of George Floyd

Dr Dey, who is the Black and Asian Minority Ethnic officer for Camborne Redruth and Hayle Labour Party, has since rebutted claims made online regarding social distancing and the police in relation to the event in Falmouth.

It is after some made comments such as "Where were the police to enforce this flagrant breach of the current rules on meeting up?" and "The government asked people not to congregate in large numbers but this advice was totally ignored. The police ought to have broken up these demonstrations as it is a flagrant violation of lockdown rules."

Others, however, were supportive, saying: "An important and necessary protest against racism, here in the UK and the rest of the world. Social distancing was maintained in the park. No government guidelines were broken."

Falmouth Packet:

Those attending were asked to wear face masks. Photo: Brod Ross

Dr Dey said photographs showed that social distancing was maintained, adding that she had notified Falmouth Police ahead of the event, who she described as "supportive".

Inspector Martin Roberts, of Falmouth Police, told the Packet today: "We're more than happy to allow people to protest. They're doing things lawfully and that's fine.

"We made the decision that we would allow the protest to carry on and if there was any issue or problem we would get a call and respond.

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"We have given people the respect to allow them to protest and we didn't have a call at all.

"As far as we're concerned it went of without incident."

A list of safety measures was given out in advance on the event's Facebook page, which asked people to travel there in open air - for example walking or cycling, rather than via public transport.

At the protest people were told to adhere to two metre social distancing, wear a mask and refrain from touching anyone.

And once at home people were told to put their clothes in the washing machine and shower.

There were also marshals in place showing people where to kneel.