The citizens of Minneapolis have rejected an attempt by left-wing activists to replace the city police with something described as the Department of Public Safety, that would have included a minimal police force, if necessary.

The initiative, put to a city-wide referendum vote, was defeated 56% to 44%.

After the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in 2020, the city was hit with days of rioting and became the epicentre of a movement calling for police to be defunded across the US.

Concerns were expressed by how much support the measure actually received.

READ: Minneapolis voters reject proposal to replace police department with a ‘Department of Public Safety’