Key takeaways
- Police attacked: A female officer was seriously bitten and another hit with a rock during disorder on Clover Way; two men arrested for public order, harassment, and offensive weapon offences.
- Property damage: Incidents included smashed windows, broken fences, and attempts to break into homes, linked to fears of housing asylum seekers.
- Authorities respond: Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean emphasized police will not tolerate violence against the public or officers.
Two people have been arrested after a second night of disorder in Thetford saw a female police officer “seriously bitten” and another hit with a rock.
Police in Thetford© Sky News Screen Grab
Police have condemned the violence directed at officers who had responded at about 9.30pm last night to reports that a group of people on Clover Way in the Norfolk town were trying to gain access to a home.
Two men were arrested on Wednesday night for offences including public order, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon.
One man aged in his 40s, remains in custody, while the second man, aged in his 60s, has since been charged.
Prior to the disorder, a large crowd had gathered outside the police station for an anti-immigration protest, which was largely peaceful.
It is the second night of disorder in the town following incidents on Tuesday night where properties were damaged by having windows smashed and fences broken, and people attempted to break into a home, police said.
The Eastern Daily Press reported the unrest in the town followed fears the properties were being used to house asylum seekers.
Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean, who is overseeing the police response to the disorder, said: “We will not stand by and allow violence to take place, whether that is directed towards members of the public, local residents or police officers carrying out their duties.”
She added that while police would “always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest…there is no place for violence, intimidation or criminal behaviour”.
The two arrests follow that of a man aged in his 30s on Wednesday, over incidents on Tuesday, on suspicion of a public order offence – he has since been released and issued with a conditional caution.
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