Two groups vocal, but no trouble reported.
More than 50 police officers ensured that a protest and counter-protest, which took place outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, remained calm and peaceful.
The public order operation started at 11am on Saturday as a group of around 50 pro-immigration protestors positioned themselves outside the front of the MK Hotel in Deanshanger, near Milton Keynes.
During the next hour, around 100 anti-immigration protestors arrived to mount their protest a safe distance away.
MKFM reported recently how the Great British National Protest Group had planned their protest after reports of men taking photographs of schoolchildren from nearby Deanshanger Primary, and being disruptive.
But counter-protestors say this is not the case and add that the asylum seekers have been integrating into the community by volunteering for litter picking, tree planting, attending local chess clubs and painting with residents.
“I grew up and live locally, and am a parent that is hugely proud of the multicultural, diverse, respectful, compassionate community that we live in,” said one counter protestor. “My motivation for being at the counter-protest was that I was appalled that there were plans of outside, nationally-organised groups to come into our area, to stir up locals with lies and fear-mongering.
“The asylum-seekers waiting out their refugee status at the hotel aren't the decision-makers of the immigration process, and they are completely entitled to be here.”
There were fears before the event that the two protests could stoke up trouble, with both Ian McCord, Independent councillor for Deanshanger Ward and Sarah Bool, MP for South Northamptonshire calling for order. However, the police said their operation was a success and no arrests were made.
“This was a well-planned operation with specially trained officers deployed,” said Det Chief Supt Rich Tompkins, of Northamptonshire Police.
“The aim was to ensure a peaceful protest was able to take place while also protecting those people housed within the hotel. There was some vocal protest on both sides, but it remained peaceful throughout.
“We would like to thank partner organisations who assisted in the run-up to this operation, including the community in Deanshanger, particularly a number of businesses in the immediate vicinity of the hotel.”
Deanshanger Parish Council made their offices available for the police to set up a hub, and the nearby Beehive pub closed for the day.
