RAF Scampton: Rising disorder outside asylum site, say police

Plans to house asylum seekers at the site have met strong opposition

The past week has seen an increase in the number of offences being reported at an ex-RAF base due to house asylum seekers, Lincolnshire Police said

A force spokesperson said the incidents have involved protesters around the perimeter of the RAF Scampton site.

They have included assaults, protesters being forced to leave by masked men and the burning of a Dambusters flag.

The government is to home up to 2,000 asylum seekers at the Lincoln site.

Campaigners have staged a number of protests over the plans and historians have objected due to the site's war-time links.

In October police made several arrests at the site.

In the latest incident, officers were called to reports of disorder at the site in the early hours of Sunday.

No arrests were made and investigations continue, police said.

The force has appealed for information and video footage.

"We will continue to patrol the area and respond to incidents called in by concerned members of the public as they rightly expect us to do," a police spokesperson said.

"Incidents reported to us which have required a larger policing presence are suspected to have involved a minority of protesters, many of whom are believed to be from outside of the county.

"We would encourage everyone who wishes to voice their opinions through protest - which is a right we help to uphold when done within the law - to do so peacefully. There are a number of different protesting groups at the site and we would ask that they be respectful towards each other, including respecting personal belongings and space."