To be fair, they can't win can they. In 2020 Police stood aside whilst people rolled a statue into Bristol harbour and got pelters for that, but then used too much 'strength' at the Sarah Everade vigil - neither was right by-the-way purely on Covid rule-breaking reasons.
Its an impossible job these days, especially when people are videoing you on their devices.
P.S. What were they protesting about? If it was extinction rebellion or insulate Britain or some other such nonsense then well done Police, keep it up.