Three individuals have been charged following a protest that blocked a coach scheduled to transport asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Police were alerted around 8.40 a.m. on Thursday to reports of individuals obstructing a coach parked outside a Best Western Hotel in Peckham, southeast London.
Following the incident, 45 people were arrested as officers tried to prevent the protesters from impeding the coach, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Charged with obstruction of the highway are Callum Goode, 24, from Ashbourne, Derbyshire; Jony Cink, 24, from Southwark; and Indea Barbe-Wilson, 31, from Lewisham.
While Goode and Cink are expected to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the specific date was not provided by the Met Police.
Barbe-Wilson is scheduled to appear at the same court on June 6.
A large group of individuals, many with covered faces, surrounded the coach and linked arms while sitting on Peckham Road.
Police officers were present at the scene, with footage showing some clashes with protesters at one point.
The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “no borders, no nations, stop deportations,” “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here,” and “when refugees are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan expressed sadness over officers being assaulted while carrying out their duties in Peckham.
He mentioned that officers engaged with the coach driver and protesters extensively, warning of potential arrests. Despite this, demonstrators continued to block the road, impeding the coach and police vehicles from leaving.
Additional officers were deployed to safely clear the road, allowing the vehicles to depart and the road to reopen.
Protesters alleged that police had been aggressive towards peaceful demonstrators, with reports of pushing and shoving.
Laurence Smith, the founder of Lewisham Donation Hub charity, stated that two volunteers from the organization, who are asylum seekers, were threatened with being sent to the barge.
He mentioned speaking with Superintendent Matt Cox from the Metropolitan Police at 10 a.m. in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
While the Home Office has not confirmed plans for relocating the asylum seekers to the barge on another day, Home Secretary James Cleverly affirmed that protests would not deter the “firm but fair approach” expected by the British people.
Can you please rephrase that?
Source link
