Further reports of disorder, former RAF Scampton

Update, 3.40pm 24 October

A 35-year-old man arrested in connection with an incident yesterday, an incident on 12 October, and an incident on 13 october has been released on police bail. 

He has conditions not to go within a 3.2 mile radius of the former RAF Scampton base. 

Our investigations into the incidents are ongoing and further updates will be provided when we have them. 

 

Original release

Over the past several days we have been called to multiple reports of disorder at the former RAF Scampton site.

Reports have included high-powered torches being shone into the eyes of drivers on the A15, or the faces of drivers accessing the site, and eggs being thrown at vehicles and staff.

One person also reported that an egg had struck them in the head.

These reports have been taken extremely seriously due to the risk a driver could be blinded by the high-powered light, leading to a potential collision either with other motorists on the busy 50mph A15 road, or pedestrians at the protest site. The egg throwing is being treated as assault.

All of these incidents have required a policing response from front-line officers.

We received a further report at 6.53pm last night (Monday 23 October) that a man was shining a high-powered torch into the eyes of drivers arriving at the site.

A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence of using threatening/ abusive / insulting words / behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke, unlawful violence. He has also been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offence in connection with an incident reported to have taken place on 12 October, and a public order offence reported on 13 October. He remains in police custody.

A section of the A15 by the camp was closed for a short time so officers could safely speak with those at the site and carry out the arrest.

We are now investigating this incident and we would ask that anyone who might have information which might help to get in touch by emailing [email protected].

We will continue to patrol the area and respond to incidents called in by concerned members of the public as they rightly expect us to do.

Incidents reported to us which have required a larger policing presence are suspected to have involved a minority of protestors, many of whom are from outside of the county.

We would encourage everyone who wishes to voice their opinions through protest – which is a right we help uphold when done within the law – to do so peacefully.

We hope to see a reduction in the number of incidents so that our front-line police officers can respond to other urgent incidents across the county.

We will provide further updates when we have them.