TWO people from Yeovil were arrested – and two police officers injured – during anti-immigration protests in Weymouth.

Dorset Police said they had worked with organisers of two demonstrations along the Esplanade in the town, “balancing the right to protest with minimising disruption to communities”.

But amid online rumours asylum seekers from the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge were set to be moved into the Portland community, the protests did see two officers hurt.

One was hit by a bottle thrown by demonstrators, while another was punched in the face.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said there was a “highly visible” police presence, with county officers joined by colleagues from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

However, during the evening, three people were arrested with an additional two dispersal orders made against two 15-year-olds from the town.

Arrests were:
• A 42-year-old man from Yeovil was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
• A 62-year-old man from Yeovil was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
• A 27-year-old man from Weymouth was arrested for assault.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan, of Dorset Police, said: “We have been liaising with the organisers of both groups in the build up to the event to ensure people can exercise their right to protest without causing significant or ongoing disruption.

“There were rumours circulating that asylum seekers currently housed on the Bibby Stockholm would be moved to Portland, Weymouth or the wider Dorset Council area but the Home Office have confirmed this is not the case. In addition, there are no asylum seekers housed in hotels in the Weymouth area.

“Our approach to this operation was to enable peaceful protests, but if people were intent on committing public order or criminal offences, they would be dealt with robustly as such behaviours would not be tolerated and this is the style of policing that we have delivered and what our communities expect.

“I am disappointed that two of our officers were sadly injured during the operation – one was hit in the face by a bottle thrown at our officers and another was punched to the face. We will be reviewing evidence to bring the offenders of these two incidents to justice.

“Local residents spoke positively to our officers deployed in the area, praising their professionalism during the protests and I would like to thank those who positively engaged with our teams.

“I would like to extend my thanks to those officers and our wider teams who have maintained our response to communities across the county.

“I am incredibly proud of how our officers and staff have ensured we continue to deliver a safe Dorset while ensuring our communities are safe and feel safe.”

The protests came amid a wave of violence from far-right groups across the country, which saw hundreds of people arrested and a number of police officers injured.

Online misinformation surrounding the tragic deaths of three children at a Southport dance class has been cited as contributing to unrest around the country.

And in Dorset, it is understood more misinformation has contributed to concerns over immigration, including ‘rumours’ asylum seekers from the Bibby Stockholm were to be housed int he Portland area.

In response, Dorset Council said: “Following the announcement that the contract for the Bibby Stockholm will not be renewed in January, we’ve have had confirmation from the Home Office that none of the asylum seekers currently housed there will be moved to Portland, Weymouth or the wider Dorset Council area.”