Appeal following criminal damage and public order incidents

We are appealing for information following reports of criminal damage and a verbal altercation at the former RAF Scampton bases over the weekend. 

Officers have received two separate reports from staff at the site. One was that a padlock at one of the gates along the exterior perimeter had been glued shut at some point overnight on Saturday into Sunday, preventing entrance or exit from the site. This is being treated as criminal damage, and we are investigating the circumstances and working to identify the people responsible. This was incident 75 of 8 October.

The other incident was a report of a man who was protesting at the location being abusive to a member of security staff at the gates at around 12.30pm yesterday afternoon. The man was described as white, around 5ft, with a shaved head and lightly-shaved beard, wearing a blue fleece and grey shorts and carrying a Union Jack flag. Officers were dispatched but the person involved had left the area. This is being treated as a public order offence, and we are now following a number of lines of enquiry to confirm the identity of the protestor, who will be brought in for questioning once we do. This was incident 174 of 8 October.  

We are keen to view any photographs or footage which might help our investigation.

Officers have also been there today (9 October) following a further report that a protestor was walking in front of vehicles and being abusive to staff. This was incident 71 of today’s date.

All the incidents have been confined to the former RAF Scampton base.

We have a duty to uphold the right to lawful protest, which is a fundamental part of our democracy, and our officers are in the area daily carrying out patrols and engaging with residents and protestors. 

We have been engaging with the protestors currently on site since they arrived last week, and largely, the protest has been peaceful. When incidents occur, they won’t be tolerated, and we will take action to ensure the safety of our local community and those working on the site.

We will continue to provide advice around safe and lawful protest while they remain at the location. 

If you have any information which might be able to help our investigations into the incidents reported, you can email [email protected].