ARRESTS were made and dispersal orders handed out when the British National Party held a protest against a proposed new mosque in Rotherham.
Around 50 people gathered on Thornhill Recreation Ground in the town - next to a former B&Q store - for the BNP demonstration while another, larger group of Unite Against Fascism supporters gathered off College Road for a counter-protest.
Sixty extra police officers were drafted in to oversee the demonstrations yesterday afternoon. Section 27 dispersal orders - which force people to leave a particular area for 48 hours - were issued to seven BNP protesters, while two people were arrested for breaching their orders.
Chief Superintendent Jason Harwin, from South Yorkshire Police, said the demonstrations ‘passed with very little disruption and no disorder’.
“Resident in Rotherham were able to go about their usual business and I would like to thank everyone for their co-operation,” he added.