A police officer was punched in the face during protests in Canary Wharf, east London, on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The officer did not suffer significant injury, the Metropolitan Police said. Four people were arrested in connection with the event, including charges of common assault, drug possession, assault on police and public order offences.
The protests involved anti-asylum seekers marching near the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf. The hotel has recently become controversial after the government decided to use it temporarily to house asylum seekers.
Around 50 to 100 protesters, some wearing masks, gathered. The protesters became aggressive towards police and members of the public inside the shopping centre.
Police have put in place a Section 60 AA order in the Isle of Dogs to stop people from concealing their identity with masks. Failure to comply with this order could lead to arrest. A Section 35 dispersal order was also imposed in the area, directing protesters to leave. Police used PAVA spray during arrests and said a child “may have been affected” by the spray due to crowd density.
Counter-protesters also gathered in Canary Wharf, holding banners such as “stand up to racism” and stop the far right.” They chanted slogans welcoming refugees. Police ensured the safety of all attendees, including women and children.
Commander Adam Solencki, who oversaw policing in London that weekend, said the officers moved quickly to handle the disorder and that masked individuals intent on causing trouble would be dealt with robustly in future protests.
Protests continue outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, another site housing seekers. Essex Police set a curfew for the protests to end by 8 p.m. The hotel became an epicentre of anti-migrant debates after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexual assault, charges he denies. Political reactions include Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson accusing Reform UK of stoking tensions around asylum hotels, which Reform UK denied.
The protests come amid growing national debate about the government’s policy on housing asylum seekers in hotels and a surge in small boats crossing the English Channel. Recent weeks have seen unrest in several UK locations, including West Drayton and Epping, with multiple arrests related to disorder at these protests.
Police remain in the area to reassure residents and businesses and continue investigations into offences committed during Sunday’s protest. Commander Solencki emphasised the importance of peaceful protest and said disorderly behaviour would not be tolerated.
This event highlights the tensions and challenges surrounding immigration and asylum policies in the UK, with community safety and police order as key concerns for authorities and residents alike.
The incident and protests reflect ongoing community divisions and heightened emotions over government asylum decisions and migrant accommodation.
