Protesters storm streets of Epsom and hurl eggs at police over ‘church gang-rape allegations’

Oliver Partridge
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:34:01 +0000

Officers in riot gear have been deployed to Epsom town centre this evening as demonstrators took to the streets over allegations of a gang-rape outside of a church.

Surrey Police confirmed that eggs and beer cans were thrown at officers during the protest, resulting in four arrests.

One individual attempted to scale a police van while another was detained outside a residential property, according to the force.

Approximately 100 officers equipped with helmets and shields were dispatched to manage the situation in the Surrey town.

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While most demonstrators remained peaceful, police stated that some participants crossed the line into criminal behaviour.

The demonstrations follow a report from a woman in her twenties who alleged she was attacked by multiple men after leaving a nightclub during the early hours of Saturday, April 11.

The alleged assault reportedly took place near a church in the town.

However, Surrey Police have since stated that their investigation has "not found any evidence of the offence as reported".

The announcement provoked anger among local residents, who have been blocking streets and demanding information about four suspected perpetrators.

The force has explained that no suspect descriptions have been released due to extremely limited information about the incident and those potentially involved.

The force issued a warning via its Epsom and Ewell Beat Facebook page, stating that "robust action will be taken against anyone who commits a criminal offence", and urging members of the public to avoid the town centre.

Public order trained officers remain at the scene, with police emphasising that while lawful protest is respected, criminal activity and disorder will not be tolerated.

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Last week, footage emerged showing children throwing a traffic cone at riot officers during separate clashes on Wednesday, with a police vehicle allegedly damaged.

Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom and Ewell, described the scenes as "awful", adding that while she supports the right to protest, "damaging police vehicles, blocking roads and intimidating officers is completely unacceptable".

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Grahame acknowledged the "strength of feeling" generated by the case, and frustration over limited public statements from the force.

Addressing widespread speculation about the ethnicity of potential suspects, she confirmed: "There is no evidence that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved."

The senior officer explained that detectives have examined extensive CCTV footage from the area, conducted forensic investigations, interviewed potential witnesses and carried out door-to-door enquiries.

Despite these efforts, the investigation has yet to uncover evidence supporting the reported offence, though enquiries continue.

The protests are expected to persist as the close-knit community awaits further developments.