Four arrested and police officer punched in face during latest asylum seeker hotel protests

VIOLENT scenes erupted inside Canary Wharf shopping centre during the latest wave of anti asylum seeker hotel protests on Sunday, 31 August 2025.

Four people were arrested during anti asylum seeker hotel protests on the Isle of Dogs.

A policing plan was in place with Met officers accompanying around 50-100 protesters as they marched from Manchester Road, along Westferry Road, E14.

The group earlier protested outside the Britannia International Hotel in Marsh Wall.

The group entered Canary Wharf shopping centre at around 4:30pm where they stopped for a static protest – a small number of masked protesters then became aggressive towards members of the public and police.

Officers made arrests and enforced cordons in the area to prevent a breach of the peace. A Section 60 AA was put in place for the Isle of Dogs south of the A1261 to prevent people concealing their identity with masks - failure to comply can lead to arrest.

A Section 35 dispersal order was also put in place in the same area directing protesters to leave. Both orders last until midnight.

Arrests were made for common assault by a protester on a member of the public, possession of class A and B drugs, assault on police/public order offences and failure to disperse. One of our officers was punched in the face - luckily they did not suffered significant injury.

Commander Adam Slonecki, in charge of policing London this weekend, said: “This afternoon we have unfortunately seen more disorder, following the five arrests made yesterday in the West Drayton area.

“We had plenty of officers on the ground who moved in swiftly to deal with the criminality that occurred inside and outside the shopping centre. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

“Today’s protest saw many community members attend, including women and children, and we worked to ensure the safety of those there to peacefully represent their views. Those who arrive at protests masked and intent on causing trouble will continue to be dealt with robustly at future protests.

“We remain in the area to deter any further disorder and provide reassurance to local residents and businesses.”

There were also further protests in Epping with a woman arrested who went to the council offices.

Essex Police said: "We’ve facilitated a protest in Epping this evening, Sunday 31 August.

A significant number of people attended the town with three arrests being made, including two men and one woman.

With regards to the arrest of the woman at the Civic Centre, we’re aware of suggestions around the reason for her arrest.

The arrest is on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order, which is in place this evening. That order set out specific areas where protest activity could take place, which did not include the Civic Centre.

Her arrest was categorically not for flying a Union Flag.

The first man was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after an emblem was reported to have been set alight. This relates to an alleged incident on Friday 29 August.

A third man was arrested for breaching the Section 14 order, after refusing to leave when the assembly had concluded.

All three remain in custody this evening.

We also issued a specific individual with an order under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which required him to leave the area immediately and not return.

Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “We know the strength of feeling in Epping regarding a very important issue. And to reiterate what we’ve repeatedly said, we always remain impartial – this is the role of policing.

“Turning next to the arrest of a woman shortly after 7.15pm tonight. She was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order as we sought to de-escalate a highly emotional situation.

“To be very clear, despite suggestions we’ve seen on social media, she was not arrested for flying a Union Flag on the Civic Centre.”

A dispersal order, to prevent and deal with any anti-social behaviour, and a Section 60AA order, which allows officers to request the removal of face coverings, remain in place this evening and there will continue to be a policing presence in the area."