Lincolnshire Police for Peaceful Protests at RAF Scampton
Multiple reports of disorder at RAF Scampton have prompted Lincolnshire Police to call for peaceful protests. Officers have been dealing with incidents such as high-powered torches being shone into drivers' eyes and eggs being thrown at vehicles and staff. The police have said they take these incidents "extremely seriously," citing the risk of a potential collision that could occur if a driver were blinded by a high-powered light.
Past Incidents, Arrests, and Calls for Protest
On Monday, October 23, police received a report of a man allegedly shining a high-powered torch into the eyes of drivers at the site. A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence of threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with the intention of causing fear of or provoking unlawful violence. He was also suspected of a racially aggravated public order offence linked to an incident reportedly occurred on October 12, and another public order offence on October 13. The man is still in police custody.
"We are now investigating this incident and we would ask that anyone who might have information which might help to get in touch," a spokesperson for the force said. Email can be sent to
[email protected] with any relevant information.
A Section of A15 closed for Public Safety
The police had to close off a section of the A15 near the camp momentarily to ensure officers could safely interact with the individuals at the site and to execute the arrest. The incidents which necessitate a larger police presence are suspected to involve a minority of the protesters, some of whom reside outside the county, the police say.
Call for Peaceful Protests
Lincolnshire Police are urging everyone wishing to express their views through protest, a right which is respected when enacted within the law, to do so peacefully. The desired outcome of this call is to decrease the number of occurrences, so that the frontline police officers can attend to other critical situations across the county. The spokesperson for the police promised to provide additional updates on the matter as soon as they become available.