Thank you to communities for working with police during national protests

Due to the national picture around protests and subsequent violent disorder, Chief Superintendent Shane O'Neill has thanked local communities for working with police.

The force would also like to reassure communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland that work is continuing this week to manage any risk of disorder.

Planning and resourcing plans are in place to ensure that officers are ready to respond should any protests or disorder occur on our streets.

This work includes maintaining regular engagement with our communities, with local officers carrying out reassurance patrols in certain areas – particularly focussing on neighbourhoods and around religious establishments.

Ch Supt O’Neill said: "We’re working to ensure we’re prepared while we also continue to provide a normal level of service to those across our area who may need the police.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank our communities, who I’d encourage to come forward with concerns and information so that we can respond efficiently where needed.

"We do need you to continue to work with us, speak to your communities to help keep people calm but also to report into the police the right information that enables us to protect the public.

"I’d also like to remind people not to share false information. Please help us by only sharing information supplied by us or known to be true.

"Do not respond to any speculation. If you are concerned or have information that may assist us please do link in with your Neighbourhood Policing contacts or report information to us on line or via 999 in an emergency."

On Saturday (3 August), two protests occurred in Leicester city centre. Both dispersed at around 7.20pm. A man was arrested for breach of the peace but was later de-arrested and left the area. Another man, aged 24, was arrested for public order offences and was later released on bail.

A 35-year-old woman has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and assault by beating of an emergency worker. Cherice Gregory, of Portmore Close, Beaumont Leys, was arrested in Leicester city centre shortly after 10.30pm on Saturday (3 August). She was due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 5 August).

A 34-year-old man has been charged with two counts of persistently making use of public communication network to cause annoyance/inconvenience/anxiety and one count of giving a false alarm of fire to a person acting on behalf of a fire and rescue authority.

Kieran Fawcett, of Segrave Drive, Bushby was also due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today. The charge relates to a telephone call made via 999 on Friday (2 August).