Police clash with protesters at anti-asylum hotel demonstrations across UK

Counter-protests organised by Stand Up to Racism were held in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wakefield, Horley and Long Eaton in Derbyshire.

In Bristol’s Castle Park, mounted officers were deployed to separate rival groups. Police said they had authorised a dispersal zone until 7 am on Sunday, giving them powers to move people who were causing “harassment, alarm or distress”.

In Horley, around 200 anti-immigration protesters carrying St George and union flags faced about 50 Stand Up to Racism activists. According to The Guardian, the anti-racism group chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here,” while holding signs calling to “stop deportations”. They were met with abuse from members of the opposing group. One man with a megaphone shouted, “You’re all scum and you should be ashamed.”

The protests come as legal disputes continue over the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers. On Tuesday, the high court granted Epping Forest district council a temporary injunction ordering the removal of asylum seekers from the Bell hotel in Essex from 12 September. The ruling followed weeks of protests outside the hotel.

The government said on Friday it would appeal against the court’s decision not to allow it to intervene in the case, and would also challenge the injunction. Other local councils have said they will seek legal advice about whether they could pursue similar action.