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London student demonstration sees arrests and scuffles London student demonstration sees arrests and scuffles
(about 3 hours later)
Four people have been arrested as thousands of students marched through London protesting against education cuts, tuition fees and student debt. Police have made 11 arrests after thousands of students marched through London protesting against education cuts, tuition fees and student debt.
One man and a woman were detained after charging the Conservative Party headquarters in central London. Two were held after charging at police guarding the Conservative Party headquarters in central London.
The Free Education march was called in protest at tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year at universities in England. The Free Education march was called to oppose tuition fees of up to £9,000.
It was backed by groups including the National Campaign Against Fees And Cuts who want free higher education. The match was not endorsed by the National Union of Students, but was backed by groups including the National Campaign Against Fees And Cuts.
The demonstration was scheduled to finish earlier but some protesters remain in central London where there have been clashes with police. The largely peaceful demonstration ended with a rally in Parliament Square after protesters broke through barriers to gain entry.
A small breakaway group pushed a wheelie bin at police guarding the entrance to the Tory offices earlier. Some of them broke off to other parts of central London where there were clashes with police.
Officers forced them back and arrested two people for affray, while two others were arrested for assaults on police officers. A small group pushed a wheelie bin at police at the entrance to the nearby Tory offices where a man and woman were arrested for affray.
Elsewhere the Metropolitan Police said three officers had suffered minor injuries. The other arrests included two for assaults on police officers, one for criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon and another for violent disorder.
The Metropolitan Police said three officers had suffered minor injuries.
"Various missiles were thrown at the officers and protesters pulled down protective fencing around the grass area in Parliament Square," the force said in a statement."Various missiles were thrown at the officers and protesters pulled down protective fencing around the grass area in Parliament Square," the force said in a statement.
BBC News's Richard Lister said although the main demonstration was over, there was "a rump" of protesters moving around the streets of Westminster being closely followed by police. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "books not bombs" and carried banners saying "free education, tax the rich".
BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan said those gathered in Parliament Square earlier were listening to speeches and policing was low-key. One student, 20-year-old Hannah Stewart from Central Saint Martins college, said: "I'm here because three quarters of students cannot pay their debts off.
But a breakaway group made their way to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - responsible for universities in England and Wales - where they were faced by riot police. "We have no alternative and there is no choice. Voting hasn't worked, but we have things that work - arts, literature, petitions and protesting."
At least one person was arrested near Victoria Street. BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan said those gathered in Parliament Square earlier listened to speeches and chanted slogans.
'Turn up the heat' One group of protesters made their way to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills where they were met by riot police.
A Starbucks coffee shop was also targeted, with demonstrators chanting criticism of the company's tax affairs.
'Making us pay'
Demonstration organiser Aaron Kiely said the protest was the beginning of a "major wave of action" running up to next year's general election.Demonstration organiser Aaron Kiely said the protest was the beginning of a "major wave of action" running up to next year's general election.
It has not been endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS). "We want to end the lifetime of debt which is a massive burden for students," he said.
Student groups from universities across the country have joined the march against tuition fees, student debt and spending cuts. "Students are really angry because we go to university and then at the end of it we get an average of £40,000-worth of debt. That puts you in a hell of a difficult position when you start to think about a mortgage and a family.
"A modern economy capable of competing in a globalised world can only function with a highly educated workforce," said Mr Kiely. "We need an alternative."
"Wednesday's national demonstration marks the start of a major wave of action between now and the general election which seeks to turn up the heat on politicians and political parties to listen to the demands of the student movement." Graduate Sarah Bates added: "They are making us pay for the banking crisis, austerity and cuts are making problems for everybody, and people don't know how or where to voice their opinions."
The march has been supported by groups including the Student Assembly Against Austerity and the Young Greens. The march was supported by groups including the Student Assembly Against Austerity and the Young Greens.
But the NUS warned that the event had "an unacceptable level of risk" to members. But it was not endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS), whose central London headquarters was daubed with graffiti, including the word "scabs".
Before the march, the union warned that it posed "an unacceptable level of risk" to members.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that university admission figures showed that the current fees system had not deterred disadvantaged students from applying - and that, in fact, numbers of applicants had risen.A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that university admission figures showed that the current fees system had not deterred disadvantaged students from applying - and that, in fact, numbers of applicants had risen.
"We recognise the right of all students to free speech. However, the world-renowned calibre of the UK's higher education system would not be sustainable if tuition fees were removed," the spokesman said."We recognise the right of all students to free speech. However, the world-renowned calibre of the UK's higher education system would not be sustainable if tuition fees were removed," the spokesman said.
"Our reforms were necessary to further strengthen the quality of our system and this summer the OECD described the UK as one of the few countries that has developed a sustainable funding system for its universities.""Our reforms were necessary to further strengthen the quality of our system and this summer the OECD described the UK as one of the few countries that has developed a sustainable funding system for its universities."