Arrests after ‘crowd tries to storm asylum-linked house and officer bitten’

Two men have been arrested after police officers were taken to hospital during a second night of disorder in a market town.

Arrests were made after a female police officer was “seriously bitten” and crowds attempted to storm homes linked to asylum seekers during a second night of disorder in a market town.

Two men were arrested after two police officers were taken to hospital in Thetford, Norfolk, after anti-immigration protests on Wednesday.

It was the second night of disorder following incidents on Tuesday night where properties were damaged by having windows smashed and fences broken, and people attempted to break into a residential property, police said.

Video posted on social media appeared to show five men being escorted from a property by police as an angry crowd booed, shouted “get out” and made comments opposing asylum seekers being housed in the area.

Norfolk Police said “significant police resources” were deployed to Thetford on Wednesday night to maintain public safety after a large group of people gathered on Clover Way.

A spokesperson for the force said: “At about 9.30pm, officers responded to reports that people in the group were trying to gain access to a residential property.

“As police intervened, members of the group became physically aggressive towards officers – two were taken to hospital after a male officer was struck with a rock and a female officer was seriously bitten, breaking the skin.

“A third officer was also spat at.”

Prior to this, a large crowd had gathered outside the police station for an anti-immigration protest, which police said was largely peaceful.

The town’s MP, Terry Jermy, said the “ugly scenes in Thetford over the past few days have been difficult to watch and are deeply concerning”.

Mr Jermy has previously called on the Home Office to end “secrecy and confusion” around plans to house more asylum seekers in former military barracks – including at RAF Barnham near Thetford.

The MP, whose South West Norfolk constituency abuts RAF Barnham, said he had “made clear my strong objections to the use of MOD Barnham to accommodate asylum seekers”.

In a statement on the disorder, Mr Jermy said: “I am concerned that these latest incidents weaken our legitimate concerns about the Home Office’s proposals and further divert local police resources away from dealing with other local policing priorities.”

Norfolk Police said two arrests were made on Wednesday night for offences including public order, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon.

One man aged in his 40s remains in custody.

Brian Thompson, 68, of Fairfields, Thetford, 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.

Norfolk Police said officers were called to St John’s Way, Thetford, at 8.12pm on Tuesday following reports a group of people, who did not live at the address, were “attempting to get inside and smashed a window, and damaged a fence panel and letter box”.

The force added: “The group were shouting and preventing a workman from leaving.

“A resident of the same property reported a group of between 30 and 50 people trying to get into the house.

“Officers attended a second address on Bracken Road where some of the group believed to be present at the previous incidents smashed the windows of the property.

“A third incident happened on Elm Road where a smaller group entered a property and forced out the resident and stole their mobile phone.”

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.

Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean said: “We will always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest, and we recognise that people may hold strong views and feelings about issues.

“However, no matter how strongly those views are held, there is no place for violence, intimidation or criminal behaviour.”

The recently-elected Reform UK police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Norfolk condemned the violence during the anti-immigration protests.

Colin Sutton, a former Metropolitan Police detective and Reform’s first PCC, said: “Although I understand the concerns that residents have, and their right to protest peacefully, there is no place for the violence and damage we have seen in Thetford over the last couple of days.

“Those who resort to violence will be held to account in accordance with the law, and I wish the officers who were seriously harmed whilst on duty a very speedy recovery.”

In a statement, South West Norfolk MP Mr Jermy said: “People have been pulled from their homes – a place of safety – and forcibly removed, with reports of members of the public breaking into homes, taking property and smashing windows.

“This would have been utterly terrifying for the people in these properties and also very worrying for neighbouring residents.

“I utterly condemn this behaviour, and I know many Thetford residents share my disgust and concern.

“Whatever our own individual views on immigration, mob rule and vigilantism are not acceptable.”