Police and protesters clashed on Saturday as demonstrations against asylum hotels took place across England, Scotland, and Wales. In Bristol, mounted police were deployed to separate rival groups in Castle Park, where a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed no officer sustained serious injury.
In Liverpool, 11 arrests were made for offences including drunk and disorderly, assault, and affray, as a UK Independence Party protest met a counter-demonstration. Protests also occurred in Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Wakefield, Newcastle, and Horley, among other locations. Counter-protests organised by Stand Up to Racism voiced support for migrants in several cities.
The demonstrations come amid mounting pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to fulfil Labour's pledge to end the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers. Critics warn the hotels are becoming flashpoints in communities. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from 12 September, a decision the Home Office is to appeal.
Nigel Farage has led opposition to asylum hotels, calling for nationwide protests similar to those in Epping. On Saturday, he outlined plans for mass deportations, including detaining asylum seekers on arrival and deporting them to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea. He proposed leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and scrapping the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation barring small boat arrivals from claiming asylum.
In Horley, Surrey, around 200 anti-immigration protesters clashed with roughly 50 counter-protesters. The anti-racism group chanted “No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here,” facing abuse from the opposing side. Police separated the groups throughout the afternoon.
