Two arrests have been made during ongoing anti-immigration protests in Thetford, where police officers were taken to hospital as disorder continued for a second night in the market town.
Police officers injured
Norfolk Police said "significant police resources" were deployed on August 5 to maintain public safety after a large group gathered on Clover Way. At about 9.30pm, officers responded to reports that people were trying to gain access to a residential property. As police intervened, members of the group became physically aggressive, and two officers were taken to hospital after a male officer was struck with a rock and a female officer was seriously bitten, breaking the skin. A third officer was also spat at.
Prior to this, a large crowd had gathered outside the police station for an anti-immigration protest, which police said was largely peaceful. Two arrests were made on Wednesday night for offences including public order, harassment, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Arrests and charges
One man in his 40s remains in custody. Brian Thompson, 68, of Fairfields, Thetford, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a wooden bat. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on August 25.
This follows incidents on Tuesday night where properties were damaged, with windows smashed and fences broken, and people attempted to break into a residential property. The Eastern Daily Press reported the unrest followed fears that the properties were being used to house asylum seekers. Video posted on social media appeared to show five men being escorted from houses by police as an angry crowd booed and shouted “get out”.
Police response
Norfolk Police said officers were called to St John’s Way at 8.12pm on Tuesday following reports that a group of people, who did not live at the address, were “attempting to get inside and smashed a window, and damaged a fence panel and letter box”. The group were shouting and preventing a workman from leaving. A resident reported a group of between 30 and 50 people trying to get into the house.
Officers attended a second address on Bracken Road where some of the group smashed windows. A third incident happened on Elm Road where a smaller group entered a property, forced out the resident, and stole their mobile phone. A man in his 30s, arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of a public order offence, has since been released with a conditional caution.
Official statements
Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean, overseeing the police response, said: “We will always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest, and we recognise that people may hold strong views and feelings about issues. However, no matter how strongly those views are held, there is no place for violence, intimidation or criminal behaviour. Our role is to keep people safe. We have a duty to protect everyone in our communities, maintain public order and prevent harm. We will not stand by and allow violence to take place, whether that is directed towards members of the public, local residents or police officers carrying out their duties.”
South West Norfolk MP Mr Jermy said: “People have been pulled from their homes – a place of safety – and forcibly removed, with reports of members of the public breaking into homes, taking property and smashing windows. This would have been utterly terrifying for the people in these properties and also very worrying for neighbouring residents. I utterly condemn this behaviour, and I know many Thetford residents share my disgust and concern. Following these incidents, many local residents from diverse backgrounds have been in touch with my office sharing fears for their safety. I do not know the immigration status of the people placed in these properties or their legal status, but I know they are human beings that must be afforded the same rights that we all expect in this country. Whatever our own individual views on immigration – mob rule and vigilantism is not acceptable.”
