Students make their point peacefully before the violence erupted. Photos by Kim Conway.

by Martin Jefferies

mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

A photography student from Margate has recalled the terrifying moment she was caught up in a violent protest on the streets of London.

Kim Conway, who studies at Canterbury Christ Church University’s (CCCU) Broadstairs campus, travelled to the capital last Wednesday (November 10) to join a mass demonstration against the planned rise in tuition fees.

But she found herself at the front of a media scrum when protesters turned to violence and began attacking the Conservative party’s headquarters at Millbank.

Kim, 45, of Wheatley Place, said: "We’d reached the end of the march and I said to my friend that I wanted to go and get a cup of coffee before heading back to Thanet.

"We went to a coffee shop just around the corner at Millbank, which is where all the trouble started.

"When people started smashing the windows, my photographer’s instinct kicked in and I started snapping away.

"It was a very tense situation; the protests were full-on and I’ve never been involved in anything like it before."

Kim, who was one of more than 50,000 students from across the country to descend on London last week, said the march itself had been peaceful and had passed without incident.

Organised by the National Union of Students (NUS), the demonstration was called after the government announced its intention to lift the cap on tuition fees.

It means students could be forced to pay up to £9,000 a year to study at university from 2012 - almost three times the current level.

Kim said: "I didn’t expect so many students to take part. Everyone was really aware of the reasons for the protest and as we walked, we chatted to each other about the planned hike in tuition fees. We’re really worried how people will be able to afford a university education in the future."

She added: "Politicians have to sit up and acknowledge what happened last week and the number of people who took part in the demonstration. Whether they respond in a positive way remains to be seen."

Steve Godwin, president of Christ Church Students’ Union, said around 20 students from Broadstairs, including some from Thanet College, joined last week’s march.

The union’s website condemned the violent scenes at Millbank, saying a small group of protesters had "taken things too far".

Adam Porter, president of the NUS, added: "We are deeply disappointed at the actions of a minority of those 50,000 people who attended. Their actions were shameful, dangerous and counterproductive.

"We did everything we could to organise a peaceful and responsible action but sadly it was hijacked and our press coverage overshadowed."