Police in England and Wales need to be more robust in how they tackle protests that cause excessive disruption, according to a report by the official watchdog that also warned officers over “taking the knee.” The study, published today by the Inspectorate of Constabulary, was commissioned by the Home Office in the wake of last year’s clutch of protests under the banner of Extinction Rebellion and BLM. “We found that the police too often do not find the balance between protecting the rights of the protesters and preventing excessive disruption to daily life, which even peaceful protest can sometimes cause,” said Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr in a statement. The report gave examples of an Extinction Rebellion protest in Bristol that caused chaos at rush hour in the city centre, and a BLM protest in the West Midlands that closed the M6 motorway. Earlier this week, the Home Office announced a …