Police call for calm over Leicester disorder

By Caroline Lowbridge, James Lynn and Dan MartinBBC News

Media caption,

Hundreds of people can be seen on the streets in footage filmed at the scene

Police and community leaders have called for calm after large numbers of people became involved in disorder in parts of East Leicester.

Footage online shows hundreds of people, mainly men, filling the streets on Saturday evening.

It is the latest in a series of disturbances, including violence following an India and Pakistan cricket match on 28 August.

A significant police operation will remain in the area in the coming days.

Speaking on Saturday night, Leicestershire Police’s temporary chief constable Rob Nixon said in a video: “We’ve had numerous reports of an outbreak of disorder in parts of the East Leicester area of the city.

“We have got officers there, we are taking control of that situation, there are additional officers that are en route, and dispersal powers and stop and search powers have been authorised.

“Please do not get involved, we are calling for calm.”

Community leaders from East Leicester were on the ground with officers, and were calling for calm and encouraging people to go home, the force added.

Image source, Leicester Media

A video circulated online showed a protest march taking place earlier on Saturday, and some people have told the BBC that this sparked the latest disorder.

Speaking in the early hours of Sunday, police said the crowds had formed after groups of young men began what they described as an “unplanned protest”.

The force said the situation was calming and “under control”, and large number of searches had been carried out, with two people arrested.

“Several incidents of violence and damage have been reported to the police and are being investigated,” a spokesperson said.

“We are aware of a video circulating showing a man pulling down a flag outside a religious building on Melton Road, Leicester.

“This appears to have taken place while police officers were dealing with public disorder in the area. The incident will be investigated.

“Two arrests were made – one man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder and one man on suspicion of possession of a bladed article. They remain in police custody.”

‘Out of control’

A woman who witnessed Saturday’s disturbances said there were people wearing balaclavas or with masks over their faces, and with hoods pulled up.

She told the BBC they were “just everywhere, it was like crowds walking away from a football match”.

“There were police blocking the road; officers literally stood shoulder to shoulder blocking Uppingham Road,” she said.

Footage online showed police attempting to hold back crowds as objects including bottles were thrown.

A resident from Green Lane Road said what she witnessed on Saturday evening was “very intimidating”.

“The whole situation seemed really out of control,” she said.

“The police were there but it didn’t seem like they had a great handle on things.

“People were still feeling very scared, unsure and uncertain, and with everything else that’s gone on recently, there’s also a lot of tension building up in the few weeks that we’ve had this happen and unfold.”

Image source, Leicester Media Image caption,

Leicestershire’s chief constable was among the police officers on the ground

Image source, Leicester Media Image caption,

Police said they were “taking control” of the situation

As the disorder was ongoing, Claudia Webbe, MP for Leicester East, implored people to go home.

“This is a time for cool heads,” she said.

“We can strengthen our dialogue to repair community relations.

“Your family will be worried for your safety, please accept the advice of the police who are trying to defuse and are calling for calm.”

Suleman Nagdi, of the Leicester-based Federation of Muslim Organisations told the BBC: “What we have seen on the streets is very alarming.

“There have been problems in the community since the India and Pakistan cricket match and while that game often sparks gatherings they have not in the past turned this ugly.

“We need calm – the disorder has to stop and it has to stop now. There are some very dissatisfied young men who have been causing havoc.

“We need to get the message out that this must end and try to do this through parents and grand parents talking to their sons.”

‘Time for peace’

Sanjiv Patel, who represents Hindu and Jain temples across Leicester, said he was deeply saddened and shocked by Saturday night’s disorder.

He said: “We have lived in harmony in the city for many decades but over the past few weeks it is clear there are things that need to be discussed around the table to get out what people are unhappy about.

“Resorting to violence is not the way to deal with this.

“We are horrified and deplore what was going on (yesterday) and across the last two weeks.

“Across the Hindu and Jain community and with our Muslim brothers and sisters and leaders we are consistently saying ‘calm minds, calm heads’.”

He warned people to be wary of disinformation on social media.

He added: “Violence is not a solution to anything. This has to be a time for peace, calm and engagement.”

Image source, Majid Freeman

Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “I don’t think anyone saw the confrontation (on Saturday) as a likely outcome and police had been given reassurance things were calming down a lot.

“Things got very nasty indeed last night and I am very worried on behalf of the people who were caught up in it and I was impressed by the way police responded to it – it can’t have been an easy task.”

He added: “It’s mostly young men in their late teens and early 20s and I have heard suggestions people have come in (to the city) from outside looking for an opportunity to have a set to.

“It’s very worrying for people in the areas where this has happened.”

Sir Peter said it was important community leaders continued to try to de-escalate the situation but he acknowledged it was a challenge to get through to young people.

He said he was proud of the community cohesion in Leicester over many decades but not complacent.

He added: “It’s always a work in progress particularly with new generations and new communities arriving in the city.

“There is always work to be done.”

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