Anti-migrant protesters clashed with police outside the Britannia International hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday, with six arrests made as local mothers wearing pink argued with officers over safety concerns following an incident where an asylum seeker allegedly entered a blind woman’s flat.
The Metropolitan Police arrested demonstrators for breaching Section 14 Public Order conditions, possession of Class B drugs, and assaulting an emergency worker as tensions escalated outside the four-star hotel now housing asylum seekers on the Isle of Dogs.
‘Pink lady’ demonstrators – a group of local mums dressed in pink – were among approximately 100 protesters waving St George’s flags and holding placards reading “stop the boats” as they faced off against counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism.
Mobility Scooter Standoff
One woman in a mobility scooter created a tense standoff with police after being told to move down the street. She argued with officers that moving would push other demonstrators into the road itself, refusing to comply with orders to stay on the pavement opposite the hotel.
Conditions to stay on the pavement remain in force, with officers still present,” a Met spokesman confirmed as the protests continued into Sunday evening.
The demonstrations erupted following Wednesday’s incident where 22-year-old Channay Augustus allegedly attempted to force her way into the hotel after discovering an asylum seeker in her blind mother’s ground-floor flat, just five minutes’ walk from the Britannia.
‘We’re NOT Far Right’
Protesters unfurled a large banner declaring: “We are NOT far right but we’re not far wrong. Don’t gamble with our lives,” as they demanded to be heard without being labelled extremists.
Speaking to GB News, one local woman wearing pink explained their fears: “We all have National Insurance numbers. They know who we are and exactly where to find us. We don’t with them. Us women and children are terrified they can come out on the street. They’re undocumented and there’s no curfew or protection for us.”
Asked about being branded ‘far-right’ by counter-protesters, she responded: “We’re not far-right, but not far-wrong either. When the kids go back to school next month, we’ve got a Pink Patrol where us ladies will patrol the Isle of Dogs and protect the kids.
Meat Cleaver Incident
Thames Magistrates’ Court heard that Augustus discovered a man in his early twenties inside her mother’s flat on Wednesday evening, with “one hand on his genital area, another in the pocket of his hooded jumper.”
After chasing him away, she confronted security at the Britannia Hotel at around 6pm. She allegedly returned later with a meat cleaver, banging it against a metal barrier while shouting “f****** asylum seekers“, the court was told.
Augustus was one of approximately 20 people who allegedly tried to barge into the property. She has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, affray, assault on an emergency worker and common assault, and remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 12 September.
The asylum seeker, believed to be in his early twenties, was arrested in Hackney in the early hours of Friday morning on suspicion of common assault following extensive CCTV enquiries. The BBC reported he has been detained and no longer resides at the hotel.
Covert Midnight Arrivals
The protests intensified after footage emerged showing 62 male asylum seekers being moved into the 500-room hotel under cover of darkness on Friday night. Video circulating online showed a white coach pulling up to security barriers, with men carrying brown envelopes being swiftly ushered inside by staff and security teams wearing body cameras.
Sources indicate the covert arrival was coordinated to avoid confrontation as public opposition grows. The government is reportedly paying £80 per room per night at the hotel, which had remained vacant for weeks due to fire safety concerns over blocked exits.
Government Under Pressure
The demonstrations come as the government faces mounting pressure over its asylum accommodation policy. More than 26,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, with the Home Office currently using around 210 hotels at a cost of £5 million daily.
Tower Hamlets Council confirmed: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.”
Labour councillors in Tower Hamlets released a statement declaring the area “has a long history of providing a safe haven for those fleeing religious or political persecution” and pledging to continue that tradition.
‘Never Been on a Protest Before’
Local residents insisted they were ordinary people driven to demonstrate by safety concerns. I have never been on a protest before in my life,” one woman told GB News. “We’re peaceful and just trying to get a message across. I don’t want to say on camera what I would say to Keir Starmer. I don’t get why we’re not being listened to.”
A male protester added: “If you want to look at that gathering of people and suggest it’s far-right, you’re welcome to that absurdity. The Government needs to prioritise the safety of the public.”
The Britannia has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over asylum accommodation, with similar protests erupting at hotels in Epping, Newcastle, and other locations across Britain. The government has pledged to end the use of hotels by 2029, introducing tough new rules that could see asylum seekers lose accommodation if they refuse to move to alternative housing.
As night fell on Sunday, police maintained their presence outside the Canary Wharf hotel, with conditions requiring all protesters to remain on designated pavements as both sides continued their standoff over the future of asylum accommodation in the capital.
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