Asylum protests: Teen charged over Knowsley disorderon February 12, 2023 at 4:13 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

He is accused of assaulting an emergency worker after disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Merseyside hotel near where protests were heldImage source, PA Media

A teenager has been charged with beating an emergency worker after disorder broke out near a hotel in Merseyside housing asylum seekers.

Jarad Skeete, 19, of Irwell Close, Aigburth, Liverpool, has also been charged with violent disorder.

Merseyside Police said he was arrested after disorder in Knowsley on Friday.

A police officer and two members of the public were hurt as missiles including lit fireworks were thrown when protests turned violent.

Mr Skeete has been remanded in custody and will appear at Wirral Adult Remand Court on Monday.

Fourteen other people – 12 men and two women who are mainly from the Knowsley area – were arrested.

They have been conditionally bailed pending the outcome of police inquiries.

‘No support’

Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell has condemned the violence and said the government was seeking to limit the “excessive use” of asylum hotels.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show earlier, he said: “We have a duty to welcome these people.

“Often they are caught in desperate jeopardy, but equally we have a duty to house them appropriately and to work with local people.

“The Home Office is trying very hard now to stop the excessive use of hotels and find different ways of placing them in appropriate places in the community and that is something the Home Office will achieve.”

However, Lisa Nandy, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities, said the government was providing “no support whatsoever”.

“The government contracts big companies to provide what they call asylum support,” she said.

“Instead these companies maximise the profit they make, they put people into some appalling accommodation without help or support – people who’ve been through hell and back before they even reached this country.”

Presentational grey line

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

England v New Zealand: Jonny Bairstow reaches his ninth Test centuryon June 14, 2022 at 4:04 pm

England batter Jonny Bairstow completes England's second-fastest Test century to rapturous applause at Trent Bridge on the fifth day of the second Test against...

Two British men missing in Ukraine, say officialson January 9, 2023 at 9:40 pm

A search is under way for British nationals Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry in Ukraine.Two British nationals have gone missing in the eastern Donetsk...

World Athletics Championships: Leandro Ramos does somersault during javelin throwon July 22, 2022 at 2:31 am

Watch as Portugal's Leandro Ramos completes a somersault during his javelin throw at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.Watch as Portugal's Leandro Ramos completes...

Travis King: US soldier in N Korea had been held after fighting in Seoulon July 19, 2023 at 12:50 pm

Travis King spent time in a detention facility after getting into fights and hitting a police car.Image source, Getty ImagesBy Derek Cai in Singapore...

Covid Omicron: Variant will push Europe hospitals towards brink, says WHOon December 21, 2021 at 9:45 pm

The UN health body's Europe head says another storm is coming, as countries brace for a surge in cases.Image source, ReutersA surge of Omicron...