A crowd of 100 people gathered.
The crowd gathered in Thetford (Image: PA)
Police have issued a major update after a huge crowd of people stormed an estate they thought was housing asylum seekers.
Norfolk Police’s Chief Constable Paul Sanford said some asylum seekers had to be escorted from homes as a result of the unrest in Thetford, Norfolk, over the past three nights.
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He told the BBC’s Today programme: “We did have people protesting in the Thetford area who were targeting addresses they believed were housing asylum seekers, and on a couple of occasions, that required us to escort the residents of those properties away for their safety.”
When asked what might have happened if officers had not intervened, he said: “I think it’s highly likely that the protesters would have got into the property, they would have created a significant problem, and really threatened the safety of the occupants, and indeed the protesters themselves.”
Police issued an update after three days of disorder. (Image: Eastern Daily Press/SWNS)
Mr Sanford also said “I absolutely refute” that his officers had been too aggressive. He told BBC’s Today programme: “We have people who are exercising their right to protest, and, of course, we will support that. There are people who live in Thetford who are concerned, understandably concerned, about some of the things that are happening in their town.
“However, across three consecutive nights, a group of people have crossed the line as to what is acceptable. And we have been appropriately policing those behaviours. I’ve seen the reports of heavy handedness.
“We’ve been firm. We’ve been firm with people who have broken the law. And if people wander into an active protest and ignore calls from the police to stand back, then there is a high likelihood that they might get caught up in what occurs.
“But my officers have done a fantastic job. I’ve had two police officers hospitalised as a result of the incident on Wednesday night. The people who perpetrated those offences should expect the full force of the law, and I will be pushing for the strongest possible sanction.”
Norfolk Police said officers were called to St John’s Way, Thetford, at 8.12pm on Tuesday and five men believed to be asylum seekers were rescued from a property in Thetford by police in front of a baying crowd.
A man in his 40s was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of inciting racial hatred related to events on Wednesday. Another man, also in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide details to police when asked.
Norfolk Police said two arrests were made on Wednesday night for offences including public order, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon. A Thetford man 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.
A man aged in his 30s, who was arrested on Wednesday following Tuesday’s incidents on suspicion of a public order offence, has since been released and issued with a conditional caution.