Police statement as masked patriots plan Oxfordshire protest

Police speak to a masked protester in Portsmouth <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Police speak to a masked protester in Portsmouth (Image: PA)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

A police statement has been issued as a group of masked patriots plan an Oxfordshire protest.

The force has said that it has a "range of powers" and that they will be used if "proportionate and lawful".

They said: “Officers and commanders have a range of powers available to manage protests and prevent disorder.

READ MORE: Reform UK politician at 'ground zero' Oxfordshire village

"These powers will be used where necessary, proportionate and lawful to protect the public.”

This comes after Hampshire Police banned face coverings during recent protests in Portsmouth city centre, with those ignoring the order facing arrest under Section 158 of the Crime and Policing Act.

Patriot Platform founder Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo speaking to Zia Yusuf (Image: Pol Allingham/PA Wire)

The restrictions allowed officers to force the removal of face concealments and were implemented across last weekend (September 11 and September 12) after masked anti-migrant protesters caused disruption in the city and Dover the week before.

As part of this, on Sunday, September 6, they blockaded the Port of Dover, leading to roads becoming gridlocked and ferries being missed.

The masked protesters would a few days later protest outside the Daily Mail offices, amid a dispute about the newspaper's coverage

READ MORE: Leader of masked patriots in protest plan at Oxfordshire village

The group's leader Daniel Thomas is the co-founder of Patriot Platform, promoting it as a project to build “a mighty patriotic army”.

Also known as Danny Tommo, on a recent video with fellow anti-immigration protester Tommy Robinson, he raised the possibility of a protest in Piddington near Bicester amid a ferocious row about hosting asylum seekers at a military base next to the Oxfordshire village.

Indeed, he said 5,000 men could head to the parish for the protest, calling the idea "powerful".

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos