Anti-immigration protest held in Norfolk after seven refugees charged with child sexual offences
An anti-immigration protest has been held in Norwich after seven refugees were charged with being part of a grooming gang, rape and child sexual abuse.
The demonstration comes after Norfolk Police announced on Friday that seven men had been charged as part of an investigation into group-based child sexual abuse in Norwich.
The refugees, who are Afghan citizens, are accused of sexual crimes committed between August 2023 and May 2025.
Norfolk Police said the charges relate to two victims who were in their late teens to middle age at the time of the alleged crimes.
On Wednesday activists hung a banner reading ‘stop imports, start deportations’ at the top of the steps of Norwich Town Hall, home of Norwich City Council.
Speeches were made over loudspeakers to a crowd of about 150 people outside the town hall, near the city’s market, some holding British flags.
Union flags flew on either side of the banner, where one of the speakers said “how much longer will we remain silent” and “no more”.
Uniformed police officers monitored the demonstration, which was announced on social media.
There was some hedging from the crowd as several people who apparently objected to the protest walked past them individually and shouted before being let in by officers.
Norfolk Police said none of the defendants lived in asylum hotels in Norfolk and none of the alleged crimes took place in asylum hotels.
The defendants appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday and were remanded in custody until a plea hearing at Norwich Crown Court on June 19.
Police said five of the men entered the country in a small boat, one hid in a lorry and the seventh tried to sneak into the UK via Portsmouth ferry port.
Inspector Craig Miller said: “I know this news will be shocking to our communities.
“This type of incident is heartbreaking and I want people who live and work in Norwich, as well as the wider community of Norfolk, to know that we will do everything possible to protect children from abuse and exploitation.”
