Two police officers were taken to hospital after being bitten and spat at during anti-immigration protests in Thetford, Norfolk, leading to arrests and increased police powers.
Violence erupts over two nights
On Tuesday, crowds of up to 100 people stormed homes linked to asylum seekers in St John's Way, Thetford. They shouted and tried to gain access to properties, with a small group managing to enter one, force a resident out, and steal their phone.
On Thursday evening, two men were arrested after two officers were taken to hospital, with one female officer 'seriously bitten'. Other arrests were made for public order, harassment, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Arrests and charges
One man in his 40s remains in custody, while Brian Thompson, 68, of Fairfields, has been charged for possessing a wooden bat and has been bailed ahead of a court appearance on August 25.
Earlier this week, properties were damaged with smashed windows and broken fences, and people attempted to break into a residential property, police said.
Increased police powers
Increased police powers were granted this evening, allowing officers to direct people to remove face coverings or leave the area if they commit or 'may commit' anti-social behaviour. Those who refused to remove a face covering when asked could be arrested, Norfolk Police added.
The force added that 'significant police resources' were deployed to Thetford on Wednesday night to maintain public safety after a large group gathered on Clover Way. It was reported that people were 'trying to gain access to a residential property' and that group members 'became physically aggressive towards officers'. This involved a male officer being struck with a rock, while the biting of his female colleague 'broke the skin'. A third officer was spat at.
Political reaction
Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice claimed the disorder is a sign 'local people are furious that large numbers of illegal migrants are being dumped into their locality'. He told Times Radio: 'Those local communities should be allowed to express that concern and anxiety without instantly being smeared and labelled as being bigots in some way. That is very different to any form of violence.'
Local residents' accounts
Windows on a terraced house on that street appeared to be smeared with broken eggs today. A marked police car was parked near the street, which is close to a primary school, and uniformed officers were seen at the rear of a property.
The police response was criticised by some local people. One unnamed resident of Clover Way described how, at around 9.30pm on Wednesday, 'lots of young boys … came up on bikes and chucked eggs at the house'. The largely seated protest started 'peaceful' until extra officers arrived and formed a line, she said, after which it 'started to get a little bit rowdy' as protesters 'took a step forward' towards law enforcement. No one tried to get into the house, she said, adding that police 'started pepper-spraying people', including 'a lady in a wheelchair'. There were 'a few young idiots picking up stones, lobbing them at a police car'.
'They brought a riot van down and blocked the front of the house,' she explained, adding that officers got out batons, made arrests and told people to leave. 'This is a very quiet estate; nothing happens here.'
Scott Hussey, a Reform UK councillor for the Brecks ward for Norfolk County Council, said the street was divided with 30 officers on one side and about 80 'people from the town' on the other. 'Many people who had just come out of their houses to watch,' he insisted, saying it was 'mainly peaceful' when he was there.
The town's MP, Terry Jermy, said that the 'ugly scenes' in Thetford over the past few days have been 'difficult to watch', calling them 'deeply concerning'. Mr Jermy has previously called on the Home Office to end 'secrecy and confusion' around plans to house more asylum seekers in former military barracks – including at RAF Barnham near Thetford.
