Women in a Surrey commuter town are planning a peaceful demonstration after a protest promoted by far-right supporters clashed with riot police following an alleged rape near a church.
The event is due to take place in Rosebury Park next Friday, April 24, in Epsom which was the scene of a disorderly protest on Wednesday evening.
The “Peaceful Sitting Protest” - to raise awareness about violence against women - is being organised by a group called Women of Epsom.
“Let’s come together peacefully and stand for safety, respect and justice,” they stressed.
Organisers of the earlier protest in Epsom said they were “reassured” but not “satisfied” after they met police officers to discuss the investigation into the alleged rape of a woman in the town.
Two men, Billy Cooper and Pete, who did not give his surname, had a private meeting with Surrey Police on Thursday evening following their call for more information about the suspects in the alleged attack outside Epsom Methodist Church on Saturday.
A woman in her 20s is believed to have been followed and assaulted outside the church in Ashley Road after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub between 2am and 4am, according to the force.
A large crowd of protesters gathered in the upmarket town’s centre on Wednesday evening after police said they did not have enough information to release descriptions of any suspects.
The protest was also promoted online by Danny Tommo, a former associate of Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.
Mr Cooper and Pete are not known to have any links to the far-right.
Social media footage showed a crowd of protesters and dozens of police officers wearing helmets and holding shields, with objects appearing to have been thrown at them.
Groups of demonstrators also blocked the road, causing disruption to motorists, before leaving the scene at around 8pm, according to police.
Speaking after their hour-long meeting on Thursday evening with Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman at Epsom Police Station, Mr Cooper said: “There’ll be something released tomorrow from the police.
“So, we’re happy with what they’re saying at the moment. So it’s just a case now of waiting to see what gets released tomorrow.”
Asked if they were satisfied with how the police had dealt with the investigation so far, Mr Cooper added: “No, no one’s satisfied.”
Pete stressed that they would wait for the police to release more information on Friday before deciding whether to give their own account of how the meeting went.
He said: “If we feel like they haven’t released anything that we’ve discussed in there this evening, then we’ll release that.”
The men, who arrived at Epsom Police Station at around 7.15pm, said the police told them the investigation is still open and that they would not be revealing any descriptions of the suspects.
Meanwhile, a church minister condemned the “intimidating” protest in response to the alleged rape outside her church in Epsom, saying “hate cannot drive out hate”.
Nothing of “this scale of horror” has happened in the Surrey town before, Reverend Catherine Hutton of Epsom Methodist Church said after a woman reported she had been attacked.
The protest on Wednesday evening in Epsom town centre was held to demand more information from police about the alleged incident, including details about the suspects.
Ms Hutton said there had been a “universal outpouring of anger” in the community this week.
“I was getting off the train at 5 o’clock and the protest was starting to gather. It was intimidating,” she said.
“Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that, and that is why we are having an act of hope for the community so we can stand together and declare we are good people,” she added ahead of a gathering in the church.
Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire backed peaceful protests and said she understood the anger in the local community.
But she added: “Those who are turning to disruption and intimidation cannot be allowed to do so.
“Behaviour such as damaging police vehicles, blocking key roads, and intimidating officers is completely unacceptable.
“To those who have come into Epsom from outside our community to spread division and cause disruption, take it elsewhere, it won’t be tolerated.”
Mark Laxton, an Epsom resident who joined the protest on Wednesday, said: “I was there to support, you don’t want things like this happening on your doorstep.
“All people want is answers because no one is safe any more.
“There was me and around 200-300 other people, it was all set up online.
“No woman is safe and women should be. You hardly see police walking the streets and that’s what frustrates people.
“Hopefully we will have made them think.”
Subhir Singh, owner of Epsom Dry Cleaners, shut his shop as the protest was happening on Wednesday evening.
“They first started shouting at the police and then some people started throwing eggs at them,” he said.
“It is not nice what’s been happening, someone above the police needs to do something.”
Madhur Gupta, who works at Epsom Food and Wine on Epsom high street, explained: “All the police came around 5.30pm and told us to close the shop.
“I think all the shops closed after the protest started.”
East Surrey Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman said: “We respect the right to lawful protest and will facilitate this wherever possible where it is safe to do so.
“However, criminal offences and public disorder will not be tolerated, and we will always take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.”
Witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident outside the church have been urged to contact Surrey Police quoting reference number PR/45260041426.
Information can also be provided anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or using the online form.
