Children threw missiles at police in Epsom last night as hundreds of protesters gathered. Footage showed two young boys pelting police with items taken from inside a ripped black bin bag, with one of them also throwing a traffic cone. An officer then appeared to shout the name of one of the boys before he fled. Dozens of police officers were deployed to the protest on Epsom High Street, with photos from the scene appearing to show people throwing objects at them. Photos appeared to show people throwing objects at police officers during the protest. Video posted on social media showed crowds of protesters gathered in Epsom town centre. Dozens of police officers could be seen wearing helmets and holding shields.
The protest was triggered by an alleged rape incident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 11. A woman, in her 20s, said she was attacked between 2am and 4am outside the Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road. Surrey Police said the rape happened outside Epsom Methodist Church after the victim, a woman in her 20s, was followed after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub. The force previously said a group of men had followed her after she left the nearby Labyrinth nightclub. They added the rape was believed to have taken place between 2am and 4am and left the victim ‘very shaken’.
Police have provided limited updates on the investigation. Detectives investigating an alleged rape of a woman outside of a church after she left a nightclub said they haven’t found any evidence yet in the case. Officers have said they do not yet have 'sufficient information' to provide descriptions of the suspects. Before the protest, police had released just two official statements since Saturday's rape, saying in the second it did not have 'sufficient information' to release descriptions. Anyone with any information or any CCTV, dashcam, or helmet camera footage should contact Surrey Police online via 101 quoting PR/45260041426.
Protests broke out in the upmarket Surrey town just before 5pm as crowds accused police of failing to release enough information about a group of rape suspects. It led to protests in the streets of the Surrey town after rumours circulated online that the suspects involved were asylum seekers. Many fear information is being withheld about the suspects in the Epsom rape case, with some suspecting migrants were involved and police being cagey. Riot police were deployed on Wednesday evening after people took to the streets demanding a description of the suspects.
Surrey Police has said it 'will not tolerate disorder' following a protest in Epsom over the rape of a woman outside a church by several men. The force has urged people not to speculate about the identity of the suspects, saying this may lead to additional tensions within our local communities.
Community members have organized efforts to promote healing. This afternoon, around 200 residents gathered inside Epsom Methodist Church for the 'Hope for Epsom' service attended by community leaders, police officers and clergy. A specially commissioned song of hope was sung before those attending were given the opportunity to lay stones at the front of the church. Epsom Methodist Church is to hold a 'community act' on Thursday, aiming to 'raise our voices for women who are vulnerable and all who are victimised'.
Media outlets have sought further details, and officials have reacted. The BBC has approached Surrey Police several times for more details about the rape and those responsible. Downing Street said the prime minister's thoughts were with the victim.
The protest caused significant disruption. Protesters blocked the road, causing disruption to motorists.
The police response in Epsom has drawn comparisons to a recent incident in Clapham. Gangs of masked teens swarmed the high street in Clapham just two weeks ago, menacing shoppers, stealing items, and there were reports of emergency workers being assaulted. The riotous juveniles in Clapham were mostly non-white. Police issued a dispersal order but did not deploy riot cops or lines of officers in Clapham. There is a contrast in police tactics between Epsom (with riot police) and Clapham (with minimal response), suggesting bias based on the identity or class of the crowd.
This situation raises broader implications for police transparency and community trust.
Key questions remain unanswered in this case. The specific evidence, if any, that has been found to support or refute the woman's allegation of rape has not been publicly disclosed. Police have not explained why they have not released descriptions of the suspects, leaving the specific information gaps unclear. The exact nature and extent of the injuries or trauma suffered by the alleged victim is also unknown, as is the number of protesters involved in the disorder and the demographics of the crowd. Additionally, the specific actions being taken to investigate the alleged rape and the timeline for the investigation have not been detailed by authorities.