Priti Patel has confirmed that there will be a police investigation after anti-vaccine protesters invaded a Test and Trace centre.
The Home Secretary condemned the incident, in which dozens of protesters entered the facility in Milton Keynes on Wednesday and appeared to damage and remove testing equipment in videos shared on social media.
Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said he was “appalled” at such “vile behaviour” towards healthcare workers.
Anti-vaxxers were seen holding placards which read: “Reclaim NHS. End jab tyranny now.” Others shouted “shame on you” and “disgrace” as staff appeared to run away and lock themselves in nearby buildings. One woman was filmed grinning as she took what appeared to be testing equipment and papers.
Ms Patel tweeted: “It is more important than ever that people have their vaccinations and booster jabs, and it is completely unacceptable that conspiracy theorists are intimidating and harassing those administering tests or delivering the life-saving vaccine programme.
“The police have my full support to take swift action where necessary. We’ll always give the police the powers and resources they need to keep the British people safe.”
Piers Corbyn was pictured attending other stops during the so-called “Freedom Rally”, including an invasion of the Milton Keynes Theatre. He was arrested on suspicion of encouraging people to attack MPs’ offices earlier this month.
Sir John Bell, the regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and a member of the Vaccines Task Force, told Times Radio the group were “crazy”.
“That’s completely unacceptable behaviour by any standard. There are a group of crazy people who don’t want to have vaccines and who you’ll never persuade to have vaccines, and as far as I’m concerned good luck to them,” he said.
Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, added: “Appalling to see a protest in Milton Keynes escalate into something much uglier. [I have] spoken to officers this evening to discuss the police response and understand what was also taking place off camera. Criminal offences will be investigated and appropriate action taken.”
Thames Valley Police urged anyone with photo or video evidence of the protest to get in touch.
