Arrests made at demonstrations outside Manvers hotel housing asylum seekers

TWO people were arrested — one of whom was later released — during opposing protests outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers.

Groups which seek to end immigration, such as Active Patriot and Yorkshire Rose and counter protest groups such Rotherham Unite Against Fascism and Rotherham Trade Union Congress both demostrated outside the Holiday Inn Manvers on Saturday afternoon.

Police said two men, believed to have been involved in the protest, had been arrested on suspicion of obstructing a public highway and on suspicion of public order offences.

One man was detained in custody whilst the other was de-arrested.

Prior to the protest, officers imposed a section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 specifying where protests could take to “maintain balance between the rights of people to lawfully protest, with the rights of those affected and the wider public” and to “minimise disruption to local residents, businesses and traffic”.

Dozens of police officers were stationed between the two sets of protesters, with the anti-facist demonstrators outnumbering their opponents.

Concerns have been raised by residents, Rotherham Council and MP John Healey after the facility agreed a deal with the Home Office to house asylum seekers, possibly until October.

Mr Healey said he was angered by the decision due to there being no “public consultation” and said he would continue to question the Home Office over their decision.

The Home Office said there are over 37,000 asylum seekers who require accommodation in the UK, which was placing a “huge burden” on the taxpayer, with a daily cost of over £5 million a day.