Cambridge students joined thousands of protesters in London on Wednesday to demonstrate against government cuts to education and public services.

The police presence was heavy, with as many as 4,000 police officers, accom- panied by dogs and horses, deployed on the march route. Some reports estimated that police outnumbered protesters by as many as two to one.

The organisers estimated that over 10,000 students would be at the protest, but less than a third of this number are believed to have been present.

Even before the march, tension between police and protesters was high, as the Metropolitan Police had issued a statement discussing the possibility of the use of rubber bullets.

This prompted demonstrators to chant: “You can shove your rubber bullets up your arse.”

In the event, rubber bullets were not used, and the protest, which stuck to the pre-authorised route, remained largely peaceful.

Police formed a line at the front of the march, and forced it to move slowly along the route.

At times, this meant that tensions rose, and some scuffles between police and protesters broke out. There were, however, less than 30 arrests.

Travelling to London, one of two CUSU coaches – which together took more than 140 students to the protest – was pulled over by police, who questioned the driver and examined students’ placards. Officers then handed out leaflets to students on the bus, outlining regulations for the march.

The march ended in a rally on Moorgate, during which protesters were surrounded by police and not allowed to leave.