A pregnant mum claims she was spat at by protesters in Dundee who have been allowed to stage demonstrations which locals say leave them too scared to go outside.
Anti-immigration protesters “Dundee Patriots” holding a rally at Reid Square area of Dundee
Families in a Dundee street say they are being terrorised by anti-immigration protestors who have been holding intimidating demonstrations just yards from their front doors.
Residents have been left scared to leave their homes following countless rallies near the Reid Square area in the city. Demonstrations have been held since November by protesters from the group “Dundee Patriots” after a number of migrants were placed in nearby accommodation. Their latest protest was held just days after Christmas on December 28.
Footage from the rally showed men dressed in all black, some wearing face coverings and carrying Saltire flags. The group could be heard chanting “paedo” and “you can stick your Palestine up your a***'” meters away from family homes. Residents who asked the group to keep the noise down claim they were labelled “paedophile protectors” and verbally abused over megaphones.
A heavily pregnant woman said she was spat at while she tried to speak to police officers after the N.W.A song ‘F*** Tha Police’ was played over speakers. She told the Record the group’s behaviour was so frightening her young son hid in his bedroom.
A protester shouts and attempts to pursue a resident who had come out to speak to the group(Image: UGC)
The mum said: “The children on the street were terrified. Most of the children on the street are under five and should not be subjected to that language. I went out to speak to the group and was swarmed by 10 to 15 men. I’m heavily pregnant and they were pushing into me, spat at me and shouted abuse.
“My partner came out after me and was immediately swarmed. We walked back to our house and they were laughing and pushing phones in our faces. It was intimidating. These protesters claim they are peaceful. It seems they are local thugs who have found a loophole to do what they like.
“When these people come to your street, you are confined to your home. My five-year-old son has been hiding in his room. I don’t feel safe in my home with them outside. I’m constantly on edge.”
Local residents say they have been terrorised by the ‘Dundee Patriots’ group(Image: UGC)
The mum said asylum seekers who had been housed nearby had not caused any issues. She added: “Teenage immigrant children have been placed nearby and the irony is we’ve not had any bother from them. You never hear them. The only trouble we are having is coming from these protests.”
In a video posted on social media, members of Dundee Patriots could be seen laughing at a police officer who asked them to quieten down. In another clip a protester could be seen shouting and attempting to pursue a resident who had come out to speak to the protest.
The group have often been seen holding up signs with messages “stop the boats” and “leave our women and children alone”.
The Dundee Patriots have held a number of protests on Reid Square(Image: UGC)
Another neighbour said the loud and aggressive protesters have been scaring children. They added: “We have never been disturbed by the migrants. We only started being disturbed when the protests started.
“Every home here has young children who are being subjected to racial slurs, profanities and comments about paedophiles. Children don’t need to be hearing these things. Many protesters arrive with their faces covered and hoods up. They look like a gang. My wife and children are scared to leave when they are here.”
A local councillor, who asked not to be named over fears for their safety, told the Record they had been targeted by members of the group after residents raised concerns.
They said: “I have been appalled at the targeting of a unit housing vulnerable young people. This is also happening next to a care day unit and sheltered accommodation. Local residents are scared to leave their own homes. I have been in contact with two households to support them with meetings with police and the council.
The group were captured on video chanting “paedo protector” at local residents(Image: UGC)
“This has to stop and give families peace, especially at this time of year. The protests have turned into an angry mob terrorising a community.”
After being contacted by the Record, a spokesperson for the Dundee Patriots claimed that they were “complying within the parameters of the law” during the protests. They added: “Not all peaceful protests can be silent forever. We maybe made a bit of a noise but we were not breaking any laws.”
Police Scotland confirmed that a 38-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with threatening and abusive behaviour following the latest protest on Reid Square. He was released on an undertaking to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court at a later date.
Dundee Patriots leader, David Tarbett, was charged in connection with a disturbance during a demonstration held by the group outside a hotel on Broughty Ferry Road on December 29.
He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Hogmanay and pled not guilty to a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour aggravated by “prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins” and was remanded into custody.
There has often been a heavy police presence at the protests(Image: UGC)
A spokesperson for the Stand up to Racism Tayside group said: “Anti racists have seen first hand the anti-social behaviour of the so-called Dundee Patriots and the effect it has had on local residents and the community. The noise, megaphones, abusive language and behaviour, shining strobe lights into people’s windows and at counter protesters.
“We have witnessed them shoving residents on Derby Street on multiple occasions. This is not a peaceful protest. We can only imagine how difficult it must be to have this going on outside your home. We encourage them to report these actions to local authorities.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and our role is to ensure public safety while balancing the rights of protesters who wish to peacefully demonstrate. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities.
“Violence, disorder, hate crime and threatening behaviour that poses a risk to safety is not legitimate protest. Anyone who engages in these offences will be dealt with swiftly and robustly. We also ask anyone who witnesses such offences to report them.
“We understand that certain demonstrations can cause concern for communities, and we will continue to provide reassurance through closely monitoring the situation and engagement, as well as providing a high-visibility police presence at protests. Enquiries are ongoing following the protest on Sunday, December 28.”