Downing Street Says Peckham Protests Against Illegal Immigrant Removals ‘Unacceptable’

A Downing Street spokeswoman has said protests in Peckham, south London, on Thursday and in Margate, Kent last week which aimed to prevent illegal immigrants being moved to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset were “unacceptable.” The Metropolitan Police said 45 people were arrested after officers were assaulted while trying to stop the protesters obstructing a coach that was attempting to pick up the illegal immigrants from a Best Western hotel in Peckham. A large crowd of people, many with their faces covered, surrounded the coach and sat down in the road in an attempt to prevent the transfer taking place. Dozens of police officers were sent to the scene and footage emerged of jostling with the mob although there appeared to be no serious violence....