Police braced for weekend of unrest as fresh wave of hotel protests clashes with Notting Hill Carnival
Police are braced for a weekend of potential unrest as they face a fresh wave of protests amid mounting tensions over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Anti-migrant groups faced off with counterprotesters in Leeds, Orpington, Chichester and Portsmouth on Friday as a weekend of nationwide protests kicked off.
The demonstrations, said to be planned at 26 hotels across the country, come as a million revellers are expected to take to the streets of west London to celebrate Notting Hill Carnival.
Many will be met by counterdemonstrations, with Stand Up to Racism organising 15 events across Friday and Saturday at locations including Bournemouth, Bristol and Liverpool.
Forces will also have to grapple with a string of Premier League matches as the season enters its second week of fixtures.
The Independent’s crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin writes:
Alex Croft23 August 2025 07:34
