Three arrested at Canary Wharf anti-asylum hotel protest

A police officer was punched in the face and three people were arrested in Canary Wharf in east London during a protest against hotels being used to house asylum seekers.

The Metropolitan Police said the arrests during the protest on Sunday were for common assault, possession of drugs and assault on police and public order offences.

The force said they had been "facilitating a peaceful anti-asylum protest on the Isle of Dogs" but said some masked protesters went into the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre and "became aggressive towards police".

The officer who was punched did not suffer "significant injury", the Met said.

A force spokesperson added: "We have a Section 60 AA in place for the Isle of Dogs south of the A1261 to prevent people concealing their identity with masks - failure to comply may lead to arrest.

"A Section 35 dispersal order is also in place in the same area directing protesters to leave."

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