Thames Valley Police (TVP) has banned a planned anti-immigration protest and counter protest due to take place tomorrow at an Oxford hotel which houses asylum seekers due to a football match taking place nearby.
Cherwell understands that an anti-immigration protest was planned outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel near Kassam stadium, and that a counterprotest by local community groups was planned for 12:30pm.The hotel houses asylum seekers, most of whom are believed to be male.
Oxford United is due to play a home game at the Stadium tomorrow at 3pm. The police have issued a dispersal order in parts of Littlemore from 8am on Saturday to 8am on Monday, as well as imposing Public Order Act conditions which ban these protests from taking place between 12:30pm and 7pm tomorrow.
The police have the power to direct people who are, or are likely to be, engaged in anti-social behaviour away from the area covered by the dispersal order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. If these individuals return to the area, they may face arrest.
A senior police officer is able to impose time restrictions on any planned protest under the Public Order Act 1986 when they believe the restrictions are necessary to prevent disorder, damage, disruption, or intimidation.
These protests come after Hadush Kebatu, a convicted sex offender from Ethiopia, was accidentally released by the Home Office instead of being deported. He was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London on 26th October, and has since been deported back to his home country after being paid £500 by the government under the Facilitated Returns Scheme. The government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the next general election.
Regarding the protest ban, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe said: “Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but we will always take appropriate steps to ensure our communities remain safe.
“We are aware of recent tensions involving anti-asylum seeker protesters and residents of the Holiday Inn hotel. We want to be clear: any criminal activity – whether from protesters or residents – will not be tolerated.”
Disclosure: the author of this article is a volunteer with a local refugee charity, Asylum Welcome.
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