Police responded to “horrendous” scenes at a council HQ after a debate about making the borough a “district of sanctuary” for asylum seekers turned ugly.
One of the men’s toilets on the first floor of Swale council’s offices was damaged and taps were left running, flooding the floor and causing water to leak through to the ground floor.
Such was the damage that the offices will have to be shut for tomorrow.
In further ugly scenes, an egg was thrown and people were seen spitting near councillors.
It came after at least 50 people squeezed into the council chamber in East Street, Sittingbourne, this evening.
Many were there to hear the plans for the authority to sign up to the nationwide City of Sanctuary scheme.
It would have meant extra support for those seeking refuge who have already been placed in the borough and would make it a “welcoming place” for people seeking asylum.
But it would not have meant any extra asylum seekers were placed in facilities in the area, as that is a decision for the government.
Local authorities do not control immigration policy or asylum decisions, and are not responsible for allocating accommodation for asylum seekers.
Dozens of people poured into the offices for the 7pm meeting to listen to the plans – most of whom were peaceful.
But during the meeting, the councillors were continuously heckled with slurs from some people in the public gallery – four young men wore balaclavas.
Such was the noise, which included shouts of “we say no”, that the meeting was paused and then restarted.
Abuse included Cllr Ben Martin being called a “f*****”, an egg being thrown at Cllr Alastair Gould, and people also spitting at nearby councillors.
There were calls for silence and for people to “calm down” out of fear that behaviour would tarnish concerns about immigration.
The councillors voted down the motion – 21 against to eight for – which led to cheers from the public gallery.
All but a handful of people stayed to listen to the rest meeting following the vote.
It was then discovered that the damage had been caused to the first-floor toilets.
Hand soap dispensers were smashed and water poured through to the ground floor, causing part of the ceiling to collapse.
Litter was also left in stairwells, and a kebab was dropped on the floor near part of the fallen ceiling.
It is currently unknown when the damage was caused, but the scenes were found after many of the people had left the council chamber.
Police officers, seemingly there to investigate the vandalism, stopped people gathered outside – including children – from getting back inside.
Council leader Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) said how the scenes were “absolutely disgusting” as he spoke to the chamber when the meeting restarted.
He added: “What a horrendous experience you just had.”
Speaking later, Tory leader Cllr Lloyd Bowen said: “I’ve been a councillor for many years, but I have never encountered such disgraceful and disgusting behaviour as was seen at Swale tonight by the public.
“I will do a report tomorrow, but for tonight I just want to decompress, be with my family and think about what transpired.
“Members were spat at, eggs thrown and the buidling smashed up. And people wonder why people don’t stand. I am really saddened by the actions tonight.”
Cllr Hannah Perkin had put forward the motion to start the partnership.
The Swale Liberal Democrat leader, who represents the Abbey ward in Faversham, told KentOnline that Swale should become a place where asylum seekers are “welcomed, supported, and valued as members of our community”.
Under the proposals, a lead councillor and officer would have been appointed to oversee the partnership with the group.
Together they would have engaged with local organisations, voluntary groups, and residents in an effort to “strengthen community cohesion and mutual understanding”.
Medway, East Kent, and Deal and Dover councils are the only Kent authorities to have adopted the scheme.
But Cllr Richard Palmer (Ref), who represents Newington and is Kent County Council’s chairman, says the motion has caused “division in the community” rather than bringing it together.
He added that it was “pointless” and “political posturing”.
“We’re struggling financially, as are most councils, and this is not in the budget,” he told KentOnline ahead of the meeting.
“It’s a motion intended to bring community cohesion, but it is bringing division within the community, all because of political posturing.
“The control of immigration is a public policy; they could have better controls, but decided not to.”
