Police investigating after councillors “pelted” with “eggs and missiles” from public gallery

The council confirmed that members of the public vandalised the council building's toilets and damaged a lift at the meeting on 10 December.

Footage of the full council meeting shows councillors being heckled by people in the public gallery as they discussed a motion on making Swale a "district of sanctuary".

The meeting was adjourned for ten minutes after councillors voted against adopting the motion. The meeting continued afterwards without disruption.

The police reportedly attended a disturbance during the meeting and "later received reports of criminal damage and a common assault”, according to BBC News.

There have been no arrests, and an investigation is underway, the report added.

The local authority said it was forced to close its offices until Friday last week in order to fix damage caused during the incident.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Toilets were vandalised, deliberate flooding caused water to pour through the ceiling in several areas, and a lift was also damaged.

"The police are examining the CCTV footage, and we will be supportive of any prosecutions they pursue."

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday (11 December), the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, said he was "horrified" to report the events to Parliament.

He said: "Last night in Swale Borough Council there were violent scenes, as people wearing balaclavas in the public gallery violently intimidated councillors.

"They were threatening them and pelting them with eggs and missiles from the gallery. This is an attack on democracy itself, it is an attack on free speech, and it is an attack on my constituents."

Adam Carey