Suspected racism offences at Lewes Bonfire Night leads to arrests

An estimated 20,000 people attended Lewes Bonfire Night on Saturday (November 4) with adverse weather conditions doing little to put people off.

Assistant Chief Constable Howard Hodges said: “Despite the adverse weather, the event was attended by an estimated 20,000 people.

“We are pleased this was a successful event for the town and that people have been able to enjoy the celebrations safely.”

Traffic had been banned from the town from midday on Saturday, but at 7.15pm police tackled a man from a motorbike after he had been riding it near crowds lining the procession route in High Street.

Police arrested three people last night (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus)

The procession was halted while police officers pinned the man to the ground before he was put in the back of a police van.

Then at around 9.30pm, a man from Lewes was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. A man from London was arrested on suspicion of the same offence at roughly 10.40pm.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police made three arrests during the multi-agency operation for the Lewes Bonfire celebrations.

“A 31-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of road traffic offences after officers responded to a motorcycle rider in Lewes High Street at about 7pm.

READ MORE: Lewes Bonfire paused for police incident with biker

“A 20-year-old man from Lewes was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence at about 9.30pm.

“A 35-year-old man from London was also arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence at about 10.40pm.”

All three men remain in police custody this morning (November 5).