A man arrested by Immigration Enforcement Officers on suspected immigration offences has been released on bail after protestors stopped an immigration van for several hours.
Police were called to Evan Cook Close, Queen’s Road, Peckham, shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday, June 11 to a report of protesters obstructing immigration officers.
Immigration Enforcement had attended an address to arrest a Nigerian man who was suspected of overstaying in the country.
The blockade, conducted by approximately 200 people, and lasting for hours, involved people encircling the vehicle and sitting in front of it to stop it moving.
A video on Twitter showed clashes with police and people chanting “the people united will never be defeated”. There have been accusations that police were heavy-handed.
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said: “Tactical options were considered in relation to moving protesters to allow the obstructed vehicle to leave. However, to prevent injury to protesters and police officers this was deemed not suitable.”
Here’s footage from today’s antiraids protest in Peckham appearing to show police officers kicking/stomping a man on the ground, and aggressively pushing and shoving multiple women.
Dreadful stuff. @Lewisham_AR pic.twitter.com/jY3VB4OeOR
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) June 11, 2022
After several hours, police told protestors that “the gentleman has returned to his address” which was met with cheers.
One Twitter user wrote: “People of Peckham, bloody well done! Peaceful protest and a great statement to the horror that is the UK Gov’t and Priti ‘Nasty’ Patel’s horrendous deportation policy.”
However, not all agreed. Twitter user Tony Smith wrote: This is not ‘peaceful protest’. It’s an obstruction of an immigration officer lawfully conducting their duty under the Immigration Act, and is a criminal offence.”
Let him go! pic.twitter.com/vQJJmUhRjg
— James McAsh (@mcash) June 11, 2022
James McAsh, Labour Councillor for nearby Goose Green, said: “As the Tory government pushes forward with their appalling plans to deport innocent migrants to Rwanda, Saturday afternoon shows how out of touch they are.
“The people of Peckham and Southwark care for our neighbours, wherever they were born. If the government wants to do something useful they should take on the cost of living crisis, instead of stirring up racism.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes, often to the most vulnerable people, by removing those with no right to be in the UK. The operation in Southwark was conducted in relation to suspected immigration offences.
“Preventing immigration enforcement teams from doing their job is unacceptable. Blocking or obstructing them will not deter them from undertaking the duties that the public rightly expect them to carry out.”