Cops release suspected illegal immigrant after angry mob chant 'let him go'

dailystar.co.uk:

Police were hounded out of an estate in London by a baying mob who forced them to release a suspect arrested for immigration offences.Amid the remarkable scenes on Saturday afternoon (June 11), a huge crowd of people encircled an immigration enforcement van in Evans Cook Close, Peckham, shouting “let him go” as police attempted to take the man away to custody.Some protesters laid in front of the vehicle to prevent it leaving and the mood turned ugly as police used force to try and clear the area.It is understood the man is Nigerian and was suspected of overstaying his visa, while a spokesman for the Met Police said: “Officers attended and found a van was being prevented from leaving the location.“One man has been arrested by immigration enforcement officers for immigration offences.”The crowd chanted “We won’t be moving until the man is released”, and “You say people, we say power, people power”.With a determined army of Londoners digging their heels in and refusing to bow down to the police, officers had no option but to release the suspect and to skedaddle with their tails firmly tucked between their legs.As they trudged off, the large gathering cried: “Don’t come back to Peckham”.A spokeswoman for the Home Office, though, said: “Preventing immigration enforcement teams from doing their job is unacceptable.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.“Blocking or obstructing them will not deter them from undertaking the duties that the public rightly expect them to carry out.”A woman, who gave her name as Nicola – and who is an activist with the south London arm of Stand Up To Racism – said police “gave up” trying to arrest people.She said: “Police tried to arrest.