Hampshire Police have joined forces from around the globe in issuing a statement following the death of George Floyd.

Chief constables from forces across the country, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the chief executive of the College of Policing and the President of the Police Superintendents' Association have spoken following the death of George Floyd and the events that have followed in the United States.

They said: “We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life. Justice and accountability should follow.

“We are also appalled to see the violence and damage that has happened in so many US cities since then. Our hearts go out to all those affected by these terrible events and hope that peace and order will soon be restored.

“In the UK we have a long established tradition of policing by consent, working in communities to prevent crime and solve problems. Officers are trained to use force proportionately, lawfully and only when absolutely necessary. We strive to continuously learn and improve. We will tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it.

“Policing is complex and challenging and sometimes we fall short. When we do, we are not afraid to shine a light on injustices or to be held to account."

Mr Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, sparking days of protests in cities across the country and overseas.

Tuesday saw three women set up their own protest in Basingstoke in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter marches around the world.

BCoT student Emily Hamilton, 17, from Brighton Hill, said: "I’m fed up of there being inequality and want back lives to be appreciated.

"I don’t like how the system is working against them and it’s not in their favour.

"A black man is more likely to be stopped on the street than a white, statistics have shown.”

Around the UK last night, buildings were illuminated purple in solidarity with protesters as well.

Councils which took part included Southwark, Islington, Lambeth and Wandsworth.

The police statement continued: "“The relationship between the police and the public in the UK is strong but there is always more to do. Every day, up and down the country, officers and staff are working to strengthen those relationships and address concerns. Only by working closely with our communities do we build trust and help keep people safe.

“We know people want to make their voices heard. The right to lawful protest is key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate.

"But coronavirus remains a deadly disease and there are still restrictions in place to prevent its spread, which include not gathering outside in groups of more than six people. So for whatever reason people want to come together, we ask that people continue to work with officers at this challenging time.”