Police evict Canary Wharf group trying to access hotel

Flares have been let off, an arrest made and a group expelled by police during a demonstration outside a hotel used to accommodate asylum seekers in London.

- GEORGE LITHGOW

A mixture of men wearing face masks and families with children waved flags and listened to speeches outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf yesterday. Protesters jeered at people going in and out of the hotel, and officers were forced to step in after flares were let off in the crowd, the Metropolitan Police said.

A group of people outside the hotel were "harassing occupants and staff" and trying to prevent people from making deliveries, the force added in a statement.

They were also trying to "breach the fencing and access the hotel", it said.

Powers were used under the Criminal Justice and Police Act to order the specific group to leave and not return for 28 days. But the Met clarified that it had not banned all protesters from the hotel - only the specific group causing trouble.

"We continue to encourage those exercising their lawful right to protest to do so responsibly," a post on X/Twitter said.

"Anyone who crosses the line from lawful protest into criminality can expect to face police action."

Earlier, a man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker after an officer was pushed.