One woman was arrested
Protesters in Bristol city centre(Image: PA)
An anti-migrant protest took place in Bristol today (Saturday, August 23) as counter protesters also took to the streets.
A section of Castle Park was closed off this afternoon as police officers formed a human wall across the road ahead of the hordes of protesters.
Demonstrations under the Abolish Asylum System slogan were held across the country, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley in Surrey and Canary Wharf in central London.
A separate protest organised by Stand Up to Racism also took place in Bristol as hundreds of counter-protesters surrounded anti-migrant protesters.
In Bristol, a handful of scuffles broke out among the crowds. However, neither side erupted into chaos and both sides were singing and chanting.
BristolLive reported that the demonstrators planned to march, but officers closed Newgate outside the Galleries car park.
Police confirmed that in Bristol a 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
Avon and Somerset Police said no officer suffered serious physical injuries or was required to go to hospital.
The force also added that inquiries will be carried out after reports of other officers being attacked.
Chief Inspector Keith Smith said: “Our priority today has been to enable lawful peaceful protest for both groups.
“Our officers have dealt admirably with a really challenging situation and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them for their professionalism.
“While there were moments of disturbance, we’re pleased to say the two protests have passed without significant incident.”
Avon and Somerset Police added that a dispersal zone is in place until 7am tomorrow (Sunday, August 24) which gives officers more power to move on groups and individuals causing “harassment, alarm or distress to others”.
Today’s protests come after rising tensions around the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has set out plans for mass deportations if he becomes prime minister.
Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals reported to be announced on Tuesday.
Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day.
The first step of Reform UK’s plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum.
“The aim of this legislation is mass deportations,” Clacton MP Mr Farage told The Times.
“We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but it’s leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder.
“There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them.”
Posting a video from today, Stand Up To Racism said: “Over 500 anti-fascists in Bristol with @BristolSUTR have humiliated a rump of 35 far right thugs #standuptoracism.”
The campaign group has said via it’s GoFundMe: “In the run-up to the local elections, we distributed over 100,000 leaflets and campaigned in towns and cities across the country against Reform UK.
“Unfortunately, we have seen Farage’s racist party make more gains, meaning we now need to redouble our efforts.
“Reform UK is a danger to us all. It whips up racism against muslims, migrants, and refugees.
“It is critical we stop their growth. Racism means more violence, hatred, and division.”