# Surrey Police warn of disorder after Epsom rape protest turns confrontational
*Event date: 2026-04-16*
Surrey Police has issued a warning that it will not tolerate public disorder after a protest in Epsom escalated into a tense confrontation with riot police, following anger over the investigation into a rape outside a church.
The protest gathered in Epsom High Street on Wednesday evening after police said they did not yet have sufficient information to release descriptions of the suspects. Officers deployed in large numbers as the crowd blocked the road and, according to photographs and witness accounts, some people appeared to throw objects at police. The force said the operation was intended to support lawful protest while minimising disruption.
The case began after a woman in her 20s was attacked in the early hours of Saturday outside Epsom Methodist Church after leaving Labyrinth Epsom nightclub. Surrey Police said the woman had been followed before the assault. The investigation remains live, and officers are still appealing for witnesses, including anyone who saw a woman in distress in the Ashley Road area between 02:00 and 04:00 on Saturday.
The police response has been shaped by a difficult balance between public concern, the rights of protesters and the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said the inquiry was being pursued thoroughly and diligently, and said officers were leaving no stone unturned. She also said there had been unhelpful speculation on social media about why descriptions had not been made public.
Townsend repeated the force’s position that it did not at this stage have enough verified information to publish descriptions, warning that speculation could create more tension in local communities. Ch Supt Mark Chapman said officers respected lawful protest and would facilitate it where safe, but that criminal offences and public disorder would not be tolerated. He said the significant police presence was meant to support the group’s right to protest and reduce disruption for the wider public.
The protest also prompted a wider community response. Epsom Methodist Church held a community event on Thursday to give residents a way to express compassion and outrage in a positive setting. Reverend Catherine Hutton said the aim was to raise voices for women who are vulnerable and for all who are victimised, and to create an act of hope for the community.
Local officials sought to cool the temperature around the case. Epsom MP Helen Maguire said the protest had been hijacked by right-wing online activists looking to fan the flames of division. Jackie King, chief executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said the authority was working with police and other agencies on violence against women and girls, and urged residents to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified claims.
Some residents and business owners described the protest as the result of fear and frustration, while others reported shop closures and disruption during the evening. But police have kept their public message focused on the same point: the investigation is active, the community’s anger is understood, and disorder will not be accepted as an answer.
The next phase of the case will depend on witness accounts and forensic work, not public pressure. For now, Surrey Police says the priority is both the safety of the community and the progress of a serious criminal investigation.
