_3.jpg)
.svg)
The police investigation into anti-immigration disorder in Thetford intensified on Friday after further arrests were made and senior officers warned that anyone involved in violence, intimidation or attacks on emergency workers would face prosecution.
The latest developments follow three nights of unrest in the Norfolk market town, where tensions centred on residential properties that protesters believed were being used to accommodate asylum seekers. The disturbances prompted a significant police operation, with additional powers introduced and officers deployed across affected areas to prevent further disorder.
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in connection with events that unfolded on Wednesday evening. A second man, also in his 40s, was detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide personal details when requested by police.
The widening investigation comes after officers described scenes in parts of Thetford as rapidly evolving and highly volatile. Police said a crowd moved towards a residential property on Wednesday night, forcing officers to intervene amid concerns for the safety of those inside.
Chief Constable Paul Sanford said some residents believed to be asylum seekers had to be escorted from properties for their own protection as tensions escalated.
“We did have people protesting in the Thetford area who were targeting addresses they believed were housing asylum seekers, and on a couple of occasions, that required us to escort the residents of those properties away for their safety,” he told journalists.
Asked what might have happened without police intervention, he said: “I think it’s highly likely that the protesters would have got into the property, they would have created a significant problem, and really threatened the safety of the occupants, and indeed the protesters themselves.”
The chief constable strongly rejected claims that officers had acted excessively during the disturbances.
“We have people who are exercising their right to protest and, of course, we will support that,” he said. “There are people who live in Thetford who are concerned, understandably concerned, about some of the things that are happening in their town.
“However, across three consecutive nights, a group of people have crossed the line as to what is acceptable. We have been appropriately policing those behaviours.
“I’ve seen the reports of heavy handedness. We’ve been firm. We’ve been firm with people who have broken the law.
“If people wander into an active protest and ignore calls from the police to stand back, then there is a high likelihood that they might get caught up in what occurs. But my officers have done a fantastic job.
“I’ve had two police officers hospitalised as a result of the incident on Wednesday night.
“The people who perpetrated those offences should expect the full force of the law, and I will be pushing for the strongest possible sanction.”
Police confirmed that one officer was struck by a rock, another was bitten and a third was spat at during Wednesday’s disorder. Two officers required hospital treatment following the incidents.
The unrest began earlier in the week when windows were smashed, fences damaged and attempts were reportedly made to force entry into a residential property. Officers have since increased patrols and maintained a visible presence in areas where tensions remain high.
Norfolk Police also defended the use of Pava spray after criticism emerged online regarding crowd-control tactics. The force said the incapacitant was deployed in response to an individual's behaviour and described its actions as proportionate and necessary in the circumstances.
Among those facing court proceedings is Brian Thompson, 68, of Fairfields, Thetford, who has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a wooden bat. He has been released on bail and is due to appear before Norwich Magistrates’ Court on 25 August. Another man arrested following Tuesday’s incidents has been released with a conditional caution.
Residents offered differing accounts of events. Some described a peaceful demonstration and questioned the scale of the police operation, while others condemned the criminal damage and attempts to target residential properties.
One resident said: “It wasn’t violent at all. They were just standing, it was a protest more than anything else.”
Another resident said the earlier attacks on homes and property were “totally out of order”.
Home Office minister Anna Turley told journalists: “The scenes we saw in Norfolk are horrendous, and anybody thinking that they can go under the guise of a protest – which is of course, you know, we all have the right to protest in this country – but then to escalate that into violence, into attacks and intimidation, and particularly attacks on our police and emergency services, is absolutely not acceptable and they will be dealt with in the right way.”
A Government spokesperson reiterated that peaceful protest remains a fundamental democratic right but stressed that violence, intimidation and attacks on police officers would not be tolerated.
Read more: Woman on Mobility Scooter Pepper-Sprayed as Thetford Migrant Protests Turn Violent
For investigators, the focus is now shifting towards identifying additional suspects, examining evidence gathered during the disturbances and determining whether further criminal charges will follow. As police continue their enquiries, community leaders face the challenge of restoring calm in a town where concerns over immigration, public safety and community cohesion have become increasingly intertwined.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that officers will maintain an enhanced presence in Thetford while investigations continue, with authorities urging residents to share information, images and video footage that may assist ongoing inquiries.
