'Mindless thuggery' comes to Blackpool as disorder breaks out in Talbot Square

Far-right group and anti-racism campaigners clashed in the town as Lancashire Police say 20 arrests made across the county

By Michael Holmes, first published on 4 August 2024

At least one person was hurt during violent skirmishes between protesters, punks and police in Blackpool.

The town around Talbot Square turned into a battle zone during Saturday afternoon as the nation faced widespread clashes between far-right groups and anti-racism campaigners.

It comes after Lancashire Police issued a dispersal order, warning that intelligence had suggested that “some individuals” were “intent on causing disorder”.

Bottles, chairs and other objects were thrown during the protest, which was initially centred on Talbot Square and the seafront Metropole hotel, which has previously been chosen by the government to house asylum seekers.

A march then snaked along the Promenade and through the town centre, including the Houndshill shopping centre, where shops hurriedly pulled their shutters down.

After the protest route took demonstrators back to Talbot Square, tensions threatened to simmer over into full blown violence.

A passing motorist had a side window on his car smashed by a bottle, while police horses and dogs - one of which tore a St George’s flag from protesters’ hands - were used to disperse the crowd, which chanted support for far-right figure Tommy Robinson and phrases such as “stop the boats” and “England ‘til I die”.

Police officers shouted “missile” as bottles, vapes and other objects were hurled their way, while one masked figure kicked the wing mirror off a police van.

Hundreds of people - some draped in the England flag, others in football shirts, and some with their faces covered - then marched towards St John's Square, where punks attending the annual Rebellion were gathered.

Police officers were slow to react and did not appear to be there when mass disorder broke out. The tinder was sparked by the lobbing of bottles towards the punks, with several fights erupting.

One man, dressed in punk attire, stepped forward out of the crowd but was headbutted and shoved backwards.

He fell, hitting his head with a crack on the ground, where he remained unconscious as a man on a motorbike drove at protesters, one of whom aimed a kick at him.

Police eventually arrived, on horseback at first, and a number of the protesters fled.

The injured man, who was given immediate aid by a passer-by who said he was an off-duty paramedic, was then treated by a police medic before an ambulance crew turned up.

He was given oxygen and helped from the square to a waiting ambulance on a wheelchair.

The protest, one of many across the country seemingly sparked by the stabbing of children in Southport on Monday, had been scheduled for 3pm outside Blackpool town hall.

Some 90 minutes before, only a handful of people were gathered close to the war memorial and Metropole.

Five flags were being flown: a St George’s flag emblazoned with the words “Save our children”; the Israeli flag; Ukraine's flag; a smaller Union Flag; and a black and white flag with the words “Lest we forget”.

There was no sign of trouble, with just seven men gathered. Some stood talking, while others sat in camping chairs. No chanting was heard and no emotion observed.

There were subtle signs of police preparation, however, with an increased presence along the seafront, and some not so subtle, with four riot vans parked in Market Street, around the corner from the planned protest spot.

The sun was shining and the mercury hovering at around 18 degrees Celsius. Doorstaff at one town centre bar spoke in hushed tones about people packing into pubs to summon Dutch courage.

By 2.30pm, tensions were rising.

Outside the town hall, punks squared off against men in football shirts, separated only by police.

“We want our country back,” crowds chanted, alongside: “Oh, Tommy Robinson,” and “Protect our kids.”

Counter-protesters returned verbal volleys of: “Nazi scum, off our streets”.

One woman holding a placard saying “Thugs and racists are not welcome in Blackpool” had it torn from her hands as the crowd pushed towards the Metropole and as sirens filled the summer air.

Things calmed down for a spell but tempers threatened to fray once more at about 3.30pm as officers moved to protect the war memorial and Metropole. The Prom was closed, trams halted and buses diverted as a line of police officers stood between the main protesters and those against them.

Shortly before 4pm, police on horseback galloped towards trouble nearer the Tower, while officers in unmarked cars drove down the tram tracks.

The protest march then proceeded, at relative speed, through the streets and Houndshill to Corporation Street and back to the town hall.

By 4.45pm, there was somewhat of a standoff between protesters and police.

The march then moved off again, this time towards St John's Square for another face-off with punks.

There was pandemonium as bottles at first went up and then fell from the sky, smashing on the ground outside St John's Church, followed by dining chairs and even lengths of wood.

By the time police arrived some minutes later, one man was prone, bleeding from the back of his head, and the flash of violence was largely over.

Officers gained control of the square, which is usually a pleasant focal point for families enjoying the rejuvenated area’s many eateries.

Lancashire Police said more than 20 arrests have been made across the county, with offences including having an offensive weapon, police assault, having a knife, obstructing police, conspiracy to commit violent disorder and failing to adhere to a dispersal order.

No officers have been hurt, the force said.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davies said: “In Blackpool, we have witnessed some mindless thuggery from individuals, who we believe to be from outside of the county, intent on causing issues in our communities.”

Councillor Lynn Williams (Labour), leader of Blackpool Council, said: "The violent scenes we saw were devastating, and are not a reflection of Blackpool and who we are.

"They do not represent our town, our people, our values of respect, friendliness, hospitality and inclusivity. Instead they undermine those values. While everyone has a right to express their views, that must be done, peacefully ,constructively and responsibly, the intent of the behaviour today seeks to erode the trust we have in one another. The disruption and impact on our residents, our businesses, our visitors is not acceptable.

"To the police, thank you for your service and commitment today, also to our council officers and staff.

"We are a welcoming inclusive town, our differences make us stronger and I know that we will move on from this with a renewed determination to respect one another and be kind. Any form of intolerance, violence and discrimination is not welcome in  Blackpool.

Hope Not Hate, an anti-racism group, said up to 35 protests had been due to take place across the UK this weekend “under a broad anti-multiculturalism, anti-Muslim and anti-government agenda”.

There has since been violence reported in many major towns and cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Nottingham and Belfast.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said police forces have his government’s “full support” to take action against “extremists” attacking officers and attempting to “sow hate”.

And Home secretary Yvette Cooper said she will work with forces to help ensure “consequences, arrests and prosecutions” for those responsible.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “This afternoon the prime minister convened senior ministers including the deputy prime minister, home secretary, justice secretary and the policing minister to discuss the incidents of public disorder and unrest we have seen in towns and cities in recent days.

“The Prime Minister began by thanking the police who responded to the violence committed by a small minority of thugs in Sunderland last night which injured four officers. Addressing the scenes of disorder we have seen today, the prime minister set out that the police have our full support to take action against extremists on our streets who are attacking police officers, disrupting local businesses and attempting to sow hate by intimidating communities.

“The Home Secretary updated on the ongoing police response to outbreaks of disorder. She said we will work with them to ensure there are consequences, arrests and prosecutions for those responsible. The Justice Secretary added that already offenders who have committed violence over the last few days have been remanded in custody and the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible.

“The Deputy Prime Minister said we are working with local authorities to ensure members of the community who have been targeted by thuggish extremists have the support they need.

“The Prime Minister ended by saying the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things. He said there is no excuse for violence of any kind and reiterated that the government backs the police to take all necessary action to keep our streets safe.”

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb told The Lancashire Lead: “At a time when families in Southport have suffered unthinkable loss, our communities need to come together to heal and support one another. I am angered to see senseless violence and disorder on the streets of my hometown today from individuals sowing the seeds of division. I condemn all forms of violence.

“The people responsible are harming residents and damaging livelihoods. They are placing needless strain on the police and health services. People in Blackpool should be able to grieve for victims and live peaceably.

“My thanks go to the police and emergency workers who are working under very difficult circumstances.”