Protesters blockade street to prevent immigration officers detaining local shop owner

Demonstration by Bristol residents shows how 'stripping away' of safeguards for immigrants has led to increased dependence on community solidarity, charities say

Scores of protesters have blockaded a residential street in an attempt to stop immigration officers from detaining a local shop owner.

The demonstration began on Thursday night in Easton, Bristol, after around 20 immigration enforcement officers reportedly raided the man’s shop and forced him into a removal van.

Police were called to Chelsea Road in Easton to reports from officers that a small group of protesters had used vehicles to block the road and stop them from leaving the area.

The number of people protesting quickly grew to around 100, with chants of “cops go home” ringing out and one person reportedly climbing on top of the immigration enforcement van.

The situation was eventually resolved at around 5am when the immigration enforcement officers were able to leave the area without any injury or arrests, police said.

Laurie Underwood, a local resident who was protesting, said: “We were angry because the government's 'hostile environment' policies and forced deportations are a form of state violence. They clash with the compassion and humanity we feel towards each other.

"We're proud of the resistance that happened here last night. Our communities are built on mutual aid, interdependence and solidarity - not the racism and division we hear from the government and some media outlets."

Charities said the demonstration signalled how the "stripping away" of safeguards against excessive and abusive immigration powers had led to an increased dependence on "community solidarity” as a means of protecting their rights.

Steve Valdez-Symonds, of Amnesty UK, said: “As more and more is exposed of the scandalous lack of respect at the Home Office for either people’s lives and humanity or the law by which the department is meant to bound, it is small wonder that communities are motivated to protest against immigration officials in defence of their family, friends and neighbours.

“And since Parliament and ministers have systematically stripped away vital safeguards against excessive and abusive use of Home Office power – removing legal aid, appeal rights and basic data protections – community solidarity is for some, particularly people who are poor and marginalised in our society, all that is left to defend them and their rights.”

Eiri Ohtani, director of the Detention Forum, tweeted: “We don’t talk enough about the damage immigration enforcement does to local communities - no one likes their community members being raided in the middle of the night and their communities being ripped apart like this.”

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to community leaders in Easton who worked with us throughout the night to help resolve a public order issue peacefully and without incident.

“We will always facilitate peaceful and lawful protest and we are pleased to say that thanks to the support from our community leaders, and people living locally, the situation was resolved at around 5am this morning.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “While we respect the public’s right to protest, it is important that any demonstrations do not obstruct our officers from carrying out their lawful business.

"We are grateful both to the police and local community leaders who worked with us to resolve the incident peacefully."