Eight arrests at anti-immigration and counter protest

Eight people have been arrested at an anti-immigration protest and counter protest in Brighton.

An estimated 300 people took part in a Stop The Boats protest on Saturday, while a counter protest organised by Carnival Against Fascism saw an estimated 4,000 attendees, Sussex Police said.

Arrests were made for offences including assaulting a police officer, breach of the peace, possession of a pyrotechnic item and breaching a public order offence.

Riot police were deployed after items were thrown at officers, the force added.

The anti-immigration march was organised by South East Patriots and called on the government to strengthen border controls and deportation of illegal immigrants.

Police said that a woman was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace and possession of a pyrotechnic item.

A man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, while another man was arrested on suspicion of assault in three separate incidents.

Two further suspects were arrested on suspicion of breaching a public order offence.

All five remain in custody.

Details of the further three arrests have not been released by police.

Ch Supt Adam Hays said: "We understand that there was some disruption near the railway station and surrounding roads.

"Public order policing is complex, and while we understand this can be frustrating, we always balance the rights of all protest groups and the wider community.

"Public safety is always our priority."

Prior to the protests, Brighton & Hove City leader Bella Sankey said that "far right agitators" were "stirring up division".

She added: "Brighton and Hove is a proudly diverse city, where white residents, black residents, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, people of no faith, gay residents, trans residents, feminists, refugees and mixed race people like me, live side by side peacefully.

"We know better than to blame whole communities for the actions of individuals.

"This is our home, and in Brighton and Hove, difference is famously our strength."

Sankey said that the council was in regular contact with community representatives, listening to concerns and offering the information and support.

"My priority is ensuring residents, communities and businesses are protected," she added.

Meanwhile, Hove DJ Fatboy Slim performed at the counter protest.

In a post on social media, he said: "Never been more proud of my home town. More disco, less fascism."

Sussex Police said that officers were in attendance to help "maintain a safe distance between two protest groups".

A Home Office spokesperson said that it was "bearing down" on illegal small boat crossings and people smuggling.

"Nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals returned since this government took office, a 41% increase on the 21 months prior," they said.

"The Home Secretary's landmark new deal with France also includes a number of measures to further improve our joint law enforcement efforts to put people smugglers behind bars, building on joint work which has stopped over 42,000 migrants attempting to cross the channel since the election."

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