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Five people have been arrested in the UK this week after anti-immigration protests broke out in the county of Norfolk in East Anglia.
Violence erupted in the town of Thetford on Tuesday, with properties damaged and fences broken as some tried to force their way inside homes, Norfolk Police said.
The disorder reportedly began after a list of properties alleged to have links to landlords with government contracts to house asylum seekers was published online.
It comes amid pushback over a government proposal to turn the former military air base RAF Barnham – which sits just outside of Thetford – into accommodation for people seeking asylum in the UK. The Home Office says the site would be used to house single adult males between the ages of 18 and 65.
Two officers were injured as the disorder continued on Wednesday evening, with a male officer struck by a rock and a female officer “seriously bitten,” police said. Another officer was also spat at, the force added.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday in relation to the disorder. Brian Thompson, 68, has since been charged with possession of an offensive weapon – a wooden bat.
Another two men in their 40s were arrested on Thursday.
“The first was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred – this arrest relates to offences committed last night (Wednesday 5 August),” police said. “The second man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide his details to police when asked”.
In a statement on Thursday, assistant chief constable Julie Dean of Norfolk Police said the force would “always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest” and that it recognised “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,” she continued.
“We will not stand by and allow violence to take place, whether that is directed towards members of the public, local residents or police officers carrying out their duties,” Dean added.