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The Hoylake Market Street roundabout, near to where there were reports of a group(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nAnother man was also charged last week<\/p>\n
19:55, 15 Sep 2025Updated 22:08, 15 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
The Hoylake Market Street roundabout, near to where there were reports of a group(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
A 78-year-old woman has been charged after a taxi was blocked by a small group of people near a hotel housing asylum seekers<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s alleged the group was linked to regular protests that have been taking place outside the former Holiday Inn Express in Hoylake<\/a>. These protests began over the summer after it was revealed the Home Office was planning to house male asylum seekers there. Merseyside Police said a woman was charged after reports a small group were blocking traffic and shouting at the occupants of a taxi in Hoylake on the evening of Thursday September 11.<\/p>\n Just before 11pm police received reports of a small group of around five people gathered near the junction of Market Street and The King\u2019s Gap and had created an obstruction in the road.<\/p>\n It was reported the group were shouting at the occupants of a taxi, filming them and blocking the vehicle\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n Officers attended and an arrest was made. Sandra Verkade, 78, of Cable Road, Hoylake was charged with failing to give her name and address to a constable, and engaging in anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n She was remanded into custody and appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on September 12, where she was bailed to return to Liverpool Magistrates Court on December 8.<\/p>\n The hotel has previously been used to house male asylum seekers and more recently used to house families.<\/p>\n However Wirral<\/a> Council is currently taking legal advice on whether it can challenge the Home Office going forward<\/a>.<\/p>\n On September 12, Merseyside Police said James Peter Martin, 43, of Old Chester Road, Higher Bebington, had been charged with a section 4 public order offence (using threatening\/abusive\/insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence).<\/p>\n He was conditionally bailed to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on October 3.<\/p>\n Two other arrests were also made in August. On Sunday, August 3, 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). He was later conditionally bailed.<\/p>\n 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. He was conditionally bailed.<\/p>\n For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a><\/p>\n Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.<\/p>\n Follow us on Twitter<\/a> @LivECHONews<\/a> – the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account – real news in real time.<\/p>\n