The Norfolk town of Thetford experienced three consecutive evenings of sporadic violence and disorder, beginning on Tuesday. Two police officers were taken to hospital, including one who had been bitten, and arrests were made on suspicion of offences including public order, harassment, and possession of an offensive weapon.
The largest incident occurred on Wednesday night on Clover Way, where residents reported seeing hundreds of people converging on an address believed to house asylum seekers. A neighbour estimated at least 200 protesters, many of them youths, were present, with eggs thrown at the house and police vans stoned. Police separated protesters and pushed them to either end of the road by 01:00 BST.
Other incidents included a broken window at a house on Elm Road, targeted on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Police reported a smaller group entered a property there, forced out a resident, and stole their mobile phone. On the St John's Way estate, a group of 30 to 50 people reportedly attempted to enter a house believed to house five asylum seekers, smashing a window and damaging a fence panel and letterbox.
Locals expressed concerns about the presence of asylum seekers and a lack of consultation regarding accommodation plans, including proposals for RAF Barnham. Breckland Council stated that accommodation for asylum seekers, provided by a Home Office contractor, is separate from local housing provisions and does not affect the council's social housing waiting list.