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Police are being confronted by crowds of protestersin South East London this afternoon in an attempt to stop immigration officialsdetaining a man.
It comes amid a backdrop of public debateabout the merits of the government’s plan to transport asylum seekers who arrivein the UK to Rwanda while their claims are processed.
Left-wing activists and human rights lawyers areattempting to stop the first flight departing on Tuesday and Prince Charles wasalleged today to have privately expressed his disapproval of the plan.
Today, as tensions continue to simmer over the plans, more than 100 protesters gathered in Peckham, southLondon, in an attempt to halt a Home Office immigration raid.
The mob, which is being whipped up by left-wing agitators and two local Labour councillors, chanted as officers took oneman: ‘Let him go!’. Others chanted: ‘We won’t be moving until the man is released.’Â
He was detained in a police van before officers announced he would be let him go – to the crowd’s elation. The mob then followed police out of the estate chanting ‘Don’t come back to Peckham’.
Today campaign group Stand Up To Racism, under the hastag ‘no deportations’, celebrated the man’s release, writing in a Twitter post: ‘The person in Peckham subjected to an immigration raid has been released! Police and immigration officers have been forced to retreat from the area. Protest works!’
Chants turned into ugly clashes at the Peckham estate this afternoon with tensions rising
Reginald Popoola, a Labour councillor for Nunhead & Queens Road councillor, wrote: ‘I’m here with over 100 others. Block the van from taking one of our neighbours – come and join us now on Evan Cook Close SE15!’
Southwark Labour councillor and primary school teacher James McAsh tagged the Camberwell and Peckham Constituency Labour Party and Southwark Momentum.
He wrote: ‘URGENT – Immigration raid in Evan Cooks Close, Peckham, Se15. Near Queens Road station.
‘Currently being blocked by a big crowd. Get down ASAP. Please RT or pass on the message.’
Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police, who are there dealing with the protests against the immigration raid, are down at the scene carrying out crowd control. The raid itself was carried out by Home Office Officials.
Campaigners appeared to scuffle with police officers on the scene in a fight to stop the raid
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Police were called to Evan Cook Close, SE15, on Saturday, 11 June, shortly after 13.30hrs to a report of protesters obstructing immigration officers.
‘Officers attended and found a van was being prevented from leaving the location.
‘One man has been arrested by Border Force officers for immigration offences. Officers remain at the scene.’
The Home Office have been contacted for a comment but have so far not provided a response.Â
Meanwhile left-wing campaigners have been attempting to gather more people at the scene.Â
Brighton’s anti-Israel Boycott, Divest and Sanction campaign Twitter account wrote:Â ‘Solidarity to community resisting immigration raid right now in Peckham. More numbers needed.’
Other chants sung by the crowd included: ‘You say people, we say power, people power.’
Crowds gathered at the estate on Evan Cook Close in Peckham from early this afternoon
Meanwhile, Zoe Gardener, who is a Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants today praised the action. She wrote on Twitter: ‘I f****g love the good people of Peckham. I f*****g love to see this it is the most beautiful thing. Show up. Fight back. We can win!!’
Leicester East MP Claudia Webb, a former Labour politician who recently lost an appeal against her conviction for harassing a woman who was having a sexual relationship with her then partner, also praised the mob.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘In response to a Home Office immigration raid, with the power of humanity and solidarity, the people of Peckham, SE15, mobilised, fought back and got their neighbour released. This is people power – so beautiful to see.’
The raid appears to have started shortly after midday, with crowds assembling over the next two hours. Tweets shared by local campaigners and councillors raised awareness about the event.
Labour councillors and local campaigners led the stoppage, urging others to join
Police officers appeared unfazed as the large assembled crowd chanted while the raid went on
The revolt came as the first Home Office flight to Rwanda was set to go ahead on Tuesday.
The plans survived a bid by left-wing lawyers to halt the policy as a violation of human rights legislation.
A High Court judge last night threw out a bid to halt the first charter flight to Rwanda.
Mr Justice Swift said he had to balance the concerns of individual migrants with the wider public interest.
Prince Charles reportedly joined the opposition, claiming the Rwanda plan is ‘appalling’.
The scores of people chanted with raised arms as they attempted to halt the immigration raid
Left-of-centre campaigners have sought to halt the government’s Rwanda migration plan
The Daily Mail learnt there has been friction between the heir to the throne and Boris Johnson, with each grumbling about the other being late for official appointments.
Allegations of tensions between the two men echo reports of the strained relationship between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher when she was PM.
A union representing Border Force staff and two charities claimed in the High Court yesterday that Rwanda was an unsafe country and Miss Patel was exceeding her powers as Home Secretary.
But rejecting their application for a temporary injunction blocking next week’s first flight, Mr Justice Swift said: ‘It is important for the secretary of state to be able to implement immigration control measures, and preventing that would be prejudicial to the public interest.’
Despite opposition from the left, the government’s Rwanda plan will formally begin on Tuesday
Responding to the ruling, Mr Johnson said: ‘Welcome news from the High Court today. We cannot allow people traffickers to put lives at risk and our world-leading partnership will help break the business model of these ruthless criminals.’
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who insists the plan is crucial in preventing further deaths in the Channel, added: ‘I will now continue to deliver on progressing our world-leading migration partnership.’
The coalition that brought yesterday’s legal challenge was granted permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.Â
That hearing is expected on Monday.Â
A separate application for an injunction is due to be heard by the High Court on Monday.
Further individual legal challenges are also expected to prevent the Home Office from removing migrants, most of whom crossed the Channel since May 1.
More than 90 from a pool of 130 migrants have already submitted claims – principally under the ‘right to private and family life’ and modern slavery laws – with more expected between now and Tuesday.
It emerged at yesterday’s hearing that 31 people are due on the first flight and the Home Office has agreed to withdraw five migrants from the passenger list.
‘A lot of people were waiting for the High Court ruling. We expect they will all put in individual claims now,’ a government source said.Â
‘There’s still a very real risk no one can be put on Tuesday’s flight.’
Demonstrations also took place against a repatriation flight to Jamaica, which ultimately took off with seven criminals onboard.
More than 100 were initially expected to take the flight, with just seven child rapists, drug dealers and other violent criminals ultimately taken.
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