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Police Escorting Anti-Racism Counter-Protesters at Migrant Hotel Sparks Outrage

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A second police force has been embroiled in a row over its escorting of anti-racism counter-protesters to a demonstration outside a migrant hotel. The footage, filmed in May, shows officers from Hampshire Constabulary walking alongside activists to Potters International Hotel, a site in Aldershot housing asylum seekers. The video comes after Essex Police faced criticism when similar footage showed officers escorting counter-protesters to the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, earlier this month.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hampshire Constabulary has been accused of facilitating protests by escorting anti-racism counter-protesters to a demonstration outside a migrant hotel in Aldershot.
  • The footage, filmed on May 10, shows officers walking alongside activists from Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and Turning Point UK.
  • SUTR plans to mobilize thousands of supporters for a demonstration against anti-migrant protesters in Epping on Sunday, while anti-migrant demonstrators claimed the arrival of anti-racism protesters sparked violence on July 17.
  • 16 arrests were made after the protest, with police saying a small number of people had used a peaceful demonstration as cover to commit violent disorder and criminal damage.
  • A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary stated that officers engage with those attending and ensure they know where they can safely protest, while a Turning Point UK spokesman said they've grown increasingly appalled to see the police escort far-Left agitators.
  • The question of whether police should be escorting certain groups to demonstrations has divided political opinion, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith stating that it's not the police's job to facilitate protest and that it makes no sense to bring people there who are out to cause trouble.
  • A suspended Labour MP, Diane Abbott, defended the police's actions, stating on X that the allegation of police bussing in anti-racist campaigners is "plain nonsense".
  • SUTR stated that in Epping, police had organized a foot cordon around its protesters for their own safety and that later that day, a number of people deemed at risk were taken away from the area in police vans.
  • Trevor Lloyd-Jones, the vice-chairman of Aldershot's Reform UK branch, said that people get upset about the police escorting certain groups, but that it's an intelligence-led decision.

Statistics:

  • 16 arrests were made after the protest in Epping on July 17.
  • A small number of people used a peaceful demonstration as cover to commit violent disorder and criminal damage, according to police.
  • The protest in Epping on July 17 was sparked by the arrival of anti-racism protesters.
  • 16 arrests were made in Epping on July 17.
  • SUTR plans to mobilize thousands of supporters for a demonstration against anti-migrant protesters in Epping on Sunday.

Sources:

  • "Byline: Fiona Parker, Senior News Reporter, Patrick Sawer, Senior News Reporter, Will Bolton, Crime correspondent"
  • A video filmed on May 10 shows officers from Hampshire Constabulary escorting anti-racism counter-protesters to Potters International Hotel in Aldershot.
  • "Credit: Turning Point UK"

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