Fury erupts over footage of second police force escorting pro-migrant protesters to asylum seeker hotel as Epping unrest sparks nationwide tensions
Officers from Hampshire police were filmed walking alongside anti-racism counter-protesters to Potters International Hotel in Aldershot, where migrants are staying.
The footage, filmed on May 10, comes as Essex Police this week faced fierce criticism after a similar video showed officers escorting counter-protesters to the Bell Hotel in Epping, last week.
The row led to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage calling for Essex Police's chief constable, BJ Harrington, to resign on Wednesday - something the senior officer has firmly rejected.
Meanwhile, top police campaigners have warned the violence was a 'signal flare' which could spark similar waves of chaos across the UK this summer.
The latest clip of officers 'bussing' counter-protesters saw one activist brandishing a placard supporting the campaign Stand Up to Racism - which is partly funded by trade unions and led by suspended Labour MP, Diane Abbott.
The group is already planning to mobilise scores of its supporters to take part in a series of planned counter-protests outside migrant hotels this weekend.
But the presence of the left-wing activists has reportedly led to violence erupting at previous rallies, with anti-asylum seeker demonstrators in Epping saying it is what triggered the chaotic scenes of disorder in the Essex town on July 17.
Police made 16 arrests and have so far charged five people with violent disorder, with officers accusing a small group of people of acting 'thuggishly' and using the peaceful demonstration to commit 'criminal' acts.
Commenting on the footage from Hampshire, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader told the Telegraph: 'It is simply not the police's job to facilitate protest. It is their job to make sure there is peace on the streets.
'If you come to counter protests you're asking for trouble, and it's not the police's job to facilitate that. By doing so, they run the risk of bringing people there who are out to cause trouble. It makes no sense at all.'
However, a leading policing campaigner has hit back and slammed those criticising the officers for 'simply doing their job'.
Norman Brennan, a veteran former London police officer with three decades of experience, said he supported the anti-migrant demonstrators.
However, the retired officer-turned policing campaigner told MailOnline: 'Police have a duty to people. They have a job to do.
'You can't criticise the police for doing something that they're paid to do – that's keeping the peace. You can't have a pop for the police simply doing their job.
'It's like football matches when you have two rival teams, you have duty of care to ensure both are protected.
'The police would have known there are likely to be agitators there. However, as people have a lawful right to protest, police escorted them. It's part of their job.
'Those police officers probably didn't even want to be there but they were tasked to with keeping the peace. And in keeping the peace, police might do something which one side of the demonstration will take a disliking to, accusing them of taking sides.'
He added the criticism faced by some officers was unfair and pointed the figure of blame on the 'violent agitators' who turn up at demonstrations not to peacefully protest but to try and deliberately cause mayhem.
'Police don't want conflict. But we have got a very angry nation. We have these belligerent people who are angry and violent and turn up at these protests to cause mayhem. They're the problem, not the police,' Mr Brennan added.
The latest video to emerge was filmed when Turning Point UK was demonstrating alongside local activists Rushmoor People First.
Some of the pro-migrant protesters were seen wearing masks, glasses and hoodies to cover their faces. Others held banners saying 'refugees welcome'.
While the anti-migrant protester carried Union flags and plaques with slogans like 'pensioners before migrants', 'illegals housed here' and 'house Brits on waiting lists'. These activists did not appear to be wearing face masks.
Hampshire Constabulary has insisted officers 'engage' with those attending the demonstration to 'ensure they know where they can safely protest'.
However, a spokesman for Turning Point UK said it was growing 'increasingly appalled' to see officers escorting 'far-Left agitators' to protests.
A spokesman for Hampshire police said: 'Protests outside Potters International Hotel regularly take place on an area of land which backs directly onto a busy A road, running between Aldershot and Farnborough.
'Therefore, there is only one direction for people attending from Aldershot town centre or the nearby housing estate to arrive.
'Officers engage with those attending, and ensure they know where they can safely protest both in advance and on the day.
'Policing protests requires us to balance the rights of those lawfully protesting and the rights of others to go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption, whilst keeping the public safe.
'Protests organised by Rushmoor People First and attended by counter-protesters this year have all concluded with no disorder, thanks to proactive engagement with police by protest organisers and the decisions made by officers on the ground to safely facilitate attending groups.'
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Anti-racism demonstrators mount counter-protest at Epping hotel
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Protesters in Epping 'want their voices heard' and 'won't stop' until migrant hotel is closed as 'two tier' Starmer starts snooping on social posts
Hundreds of protesters have descended on a hotel at the centre of an anti-migrant storm as demonstrations continue to spread across the country. Over 1,000 are expected outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, amid a growing clamour for it to be closed after an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl days after arriving in the UK. Police have thrown a huge ring of steel around the hotel, while officers from forces including Merseyside, Surrey, Lancashire, the City of London and Sussex have been drafted in to the market town support Essex Police. The force has faced questions over its handling of the protests after footage emerged of them escorting pro-migrant activists to the hotel on July 17 - something they initially denied doing. Over the weekend, angry crowds gathered in Norwich, Leeds, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Southampton and Nottinghamshire - with counter-protesters fighting back by insisting 'refugees are welcome'. 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The business owner said: 'This is about sending a clear message that we don't want a hotel in our town housing undocumented men. 'It needs closing down. No area should have them. 'I'm very excited about today.' Mother Rose Thomas, 44, from Basildon, said she was 'excited' for the day. She said: 'There's already a strong message. We don't want the hotels full of men from foreign countries.' Maureen Chapman, 73, has lived in Epping for 50 years and said she felt 'under threat'. She said: 'I have grandchildren living locally. We want this closed and we won't stop until it is. 'It's shocking. I don't feel safe. We're under threat. 'These people moaning, would they want it at the end of their street?' The Epping protests have been sparked by the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, with sexual assault after he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denies the charges. The scenes in Epping have thrown the immigration debate back into the limelight, with demonstrations later held in Norfolk where the Home Office announced plans to change an asylum seeker hotel from housing families to single men. There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. A major protest is planned outside the four-star hotel in London's financial district again today. Protests against migrant hotels have escalated this weekend with tense stand–offs in Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Leeds on Saturday. The anti-migrant sentiment is being fuelled by far-right accounts on social media - and the Government has taken action by setting up an elite force to monitor posts. Detectives are set to be drawn from forces around the country as the Government scrambles to crack down on potential violence by flagging up early signs of civil unrest. The new police division, assembled by the Home Office, will aim to 'maximise social media intelligence' after police forces were heavily criticised for their handling of last year's riots which quickly spread across the country. Angela Rayner last week warned the Government needs to address the 'real concerns that people have about immigration'. But critics say the social media crackdown is 'disturbing' and raises concerns for free speech. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: 'Two-tier Keir can't police the streets, so he's trying to police opinions instead. They're setting up a central team to monitor what you post, what you share, what you think, because deep down they know the public don't buy what they're selling.' The new police unit, called the National Internet Intelligence Investigations team, will work out of the National Police Coordination Centre in Westminster. The backlash to the plans has reignited anger over a judge's decision to jail Lucy Connolly, a mother-of-one who is married to a Conservative councillor, for 31 months over a racist tweet after the Southport murders. For today's protest, Essex Police have imposed restrictions to curb any violence or disorder, saying it is necessary and proportionate. The force said residents have reported feeling 'trapped', fearful of leaving their homes and anxious about protest activity. There will be a ban on anyone wearing face coverings and there will be designated sites opposite the hotel for protesters. A dispersal order will be in effect from 12pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday, covering Epping town centre and nearby transport hubs. The order gives officers the power to remove anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour. Hotel residents and staff have been advised to remain indoors after 5pm as some experienced verbal and physical harassment, including a resident chased and injured while returning to the hotel, the force added.
