The UK had rage-filled weekend, with several major protest taking place – and a lot of arrests. More than 4,000 people gathered in Brighton City Centre on Saturday, with Sussex Police confirming a “large policing operation” took place.
The protests there were supposedly anti-immigration, with a total of eight arrests were made ranging from public order offences to assaults against emergency workers.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Brighton and Hove divisional commander said: “We understand that there was some disruption near the railway station and surrounding roads.
“Public order policing is complex, and while we understand this can be frustrating, we always balance the rights of all protest groups and the wider community.
“Public safety is always our priority. I’d like to thank the public for their patience while we worked hard in ensuring that all of those attending the city, for whatever reason, were able to do so safely.”
The arrests made were a 58-year-old man from Ditchling who was arrested on suspicion of using threatening/abusive words/behaviour, likely to harassment, alarm and distress, and with possessing a class B drug. He has since been conditionally bailed until July 13.
A 23-year-old woman from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of possessing a pyrotechnic article and to prevent a breach of the peace. This has been referred for an out of court disposal. A 34-year-old woman from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of common assault of an emergency worker. She has since been conditionally bailed until 8 July.
A 53-year-old man from Portslade was arrested on suspicion of common assault. Following enquiries, he has since been released without charge. A 44-year-old man from Worcestershire was arrested on suspicion of common assault. He has been conditionally bailed until 14 July.
A 22-year-old from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty. He has since been bailed until 13 August. A 41-year-old man from Hove was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace. He was released a short time later without charge.
A 61-year-old woman from Hove was arrested on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress. She has been conditionally bailed until 31 July.
The second set of angry protests took place outside a synagogue in north London on Sunday.
Police detained 14 individuals following clashes between opposing demonstrators outside a synagogue after the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups alleged that a property event at the synagogue was “openly advertising the sale of land” in an “illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank” – this was denied by the organisers, but the protests didn’t stop.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews stated that the event’s organisers had “publicly refuted claims that the event is marketing real estate over the Green Line” – referring to 1949 armistice demarcation lines established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War separating Israel from the West Bank.
Video footage circulated on social media revealed heated confrontations between demonstrators brandishing Palestine flags and counter-demonstrators displaying Israel flags, with officers restraining some participants.
Demonstrators near the synagogue, situated in an area with a substantial Jewish population, displayed a large banner reading “stop Israel’s illegal sale of stolen Palestinian land” during the protest.
The Metropolitan Police reported five arrests for violent disorder, including one individual also detained for assaulting an emergency worker, one arrest for common assault, and another for assault on an emergency worker.
Six individuals were arrested under Section 4a of the Public Order Act, with four of these cases involving racial or religious aggravation, and one arrest was made under Section 18 of the Public Order Act.
The force confirmed that those arrested have been taken into custody.