UK politicians must stop stoking division, says policing chief

Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, says the UK was seeing increasing tension and volatility. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Politicians should work to “reduce and defuse tensions” instead of stoking division, a senior chief constable has said.

Gavin Stephens, who chairs the National Police Chiefs’ Council, was speaking after weeks of demonstrations against asylum seekers being housed in hotels, and counter-protests by those who fear the issue is mobilising the far right and demonising vulnerable people.