Crawley demonstration passes peacefully, say police

Hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered outside a hotel in Crawley

An anti-racism demonstration in a West Sussex town on Friday evening was "peaceful", according to Sussex Police.

"Officers engaged with those involved" around the Haslett Avenue East area in Crawley to "ensure the safety of all attendees and minimise disruption to the wider public", the force said.

Following a small anti-immigration protest at the location, a 40-year-old-man was arrested on suspicion of threatening or abusive behaviour contrary to the Public Order Act and remains in custody, it said.

Two further men were escorted away from the area by police and were issued with a Section 35 dispersal order.

Sussex Police deployed additional resources to the town

Hundreds of counter-protesters gathered outside a Holiday Inn in the town after an anti-immigration demonstration was planned there.

Four anti-immigration protesters, one draped in the Union flag, were countered by "several hundred" anti-racism campaigners at the site in Crawley, BBC reporter Peter Whittlesea said.

Anti-racism protesters travelled to Crawley by train from Brighton for the gathering organised by Brighton & Hove Stand Up to Racism, after information circulated about the anti-immigration event at the hotel.

Michael Jones, Crawley Borough Council leader, said: "It is with great relief that the protests held yesterday in Crawley have passed without serious incident.

"Our town will not be intimidated by online extremists who try to target minority communities, nor will we tolerate racist disorder."

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