There was a large police presence at the city centre hotel to keep the two groups apart
This is the moment a group of refugees welcome here supporters started singing You’ll Never Walk Alone in a message sent to protestors. Two separate groups arrived outside the Richard Apart-Hotel on Hatton Garden from midday.
There was a large police presence at the city centre hotel to keep the two groups apart. An ECHO reporter at the scene said that there were around 150 people in attendance.
Just before 3pm, the ECHO captured the Stand Up To Racism group began playing and singing along to You’ll Never Walk Alone.
The group also held up placards saying “Refugees Welcome” and “Stop the Far Right” as they were singing.
On the opposite side of the police line people who were protesting against asylum seekers were standing with Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags. Some people had sheets of paper with the words “Send them back” printed on them.
Merseyside Police were given extra powers to search people who were suspected of involvement in criminality and disorder.
The Section 60 order was put in place between 10am and 4pm, covering several roads in the city centre.
An extra police presence was visible around William Brown Street, London Road, Rodney Street, Upper Duke Street, Queens Wharf, Kings Parade and Mann Island.
People who were protesting against asylum seekers were standing with Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags. Some people had sheets of paper with the words “Send them Back” printed on them(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Speaking about the reason for the Section 60 order being put in place, Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: “This order is not intended to disrupt anyone going about their lawful business but is intended to deter crime or serious violence.
“The aim, as ever, is to keep the public safe. I hope that the presence of our officers in the city centre is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.”
Protests outside hotels have taken place in other parts of the country.
Last week police made a number of arrest following protests outside a hotel in Hoylake in Wirral.
The protests, which were met with counter-demonstrations, began following reports the Home Office is planning to use the town’s former Holiday Inn Express as accommodation for male asylum seekers.
On Thursday, July 31, a 25-year-old man from the Sefton area was arrested on suspicion of inviting support for a proscribed (banned) terrorist organisation.
In an update on Sunday, August 3, police confirmed three more people had been arrested.
A 28-year-old man from Wirral was arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 public order offence (displaying threatening or abusive writing or signs).
A 30-year-old man from Wirral was arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 public order offence and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place while a 43-year-old man from Wirral was also arrested on suspicion of a Section 4 public order offence (using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence).