We're prepared if protests turn violent, police declare

Police chiefs have warned they are ready to “mobilise significant and specialist resources” if unrest breaks out at a string of anti-migrant protests planned at hotels housing asylum seekers.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN CRIME CORRESPONDENT

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is working with forces across the country and monitoring intelligence in preparation for a fresh wave of protests today, with demonstrations planned at up to 14 hotels across the country.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police is also expected to come under pressure tomorrow, when a National March for Palestine is planned in the capital.

A separate pro-Palestine Action rally could result in mass arrests, with 500 people expected to hold signs saying: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, in defiance of anti-terror laws.

Yesterday, two women and a man were charged with showing support for the proscribed terrorist group following a protest in central London. Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police said.

Anti-migrant protesters are expected to return to the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, last Friday, where violence erupted last month after an Ethiopian refugee was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Demonstrators are also set to return to the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, where a group wearing face coverings and carrying smoke bombs made a “concerted effort” to break in last weekend.

Other anti-migrant demonstrations are planned at hotels in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leeds and Norwich, among others, in what is being billed as UK-wide protests to “abolish the asylum system”.