Five arrested as violence follows anti-gentrification protest in Camden Town

Two police officers sustained minor injuries and a member of the public was hurt as a protest against the “gentrification of Camden” turned violent on Saturday night.

Police said they were aware of the pre-planned demonstration that took place over the course of the evening with officers liaising with organisers to ensure an “appropriate policing plan” was in place.

But about two hours into the demonstration a large group of protestors moved onto the main road disrupting traffic and causing an obstruction to the road close to Camden Underground Station.

Police claimed that some twenty people within the group began to throw items at police officers, including bottles and pieces of wood, with two officers sustaining minor injuries. The officers did not require hospital treatment. A member of the public also sustained a head injury after being struck with debris and was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The Metropolitan Police’s Territorial Support Group and Dogs Unit attended the protest and were able to disperse the crowd and clear the area shortly before midnight.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of disorder-related offences. They were taken to several police stations where they remain in custody.

Organisers of the protest say the demonstration was to stem the tide of gentrification in Camden.

Their Facebook group said: “The heart of Camden is being ripped out, pubs are being converted to luxury flats no one can afford, venues are under threat, the market is flogged off to be a casino and yet more unaffordable flats.

“Rents are rising....fast. Soon this community will be an unrecognisable, bland, yuppie infested wasteland with no room for normal - and not so normal - people. Camden is a unique place and worth defending against this onslaught of dog-eat-dog economics.”