West Midlands Police has appealed for a female protester to come forward after footage from Reform UK’s annual conference appeared to show audience members pulling her hair and grabbing her head as she was being removed from the hall.
The incident happened during Nigel Farage’s keynote speech at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, which was disrupted several times by demonstrators.
Police say they are aware of footage circulating online but have not received a complaint from the woman involved.
The force has asked her to make contact so officers can carry out enquiries and has also appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Police appeal after footage circulates online
West Midlands Police said: “We’re aware of a video circulating from the Reform UK Conference showing an incident with a protester.”
The force added: “We haven’t received a complaint but would ask the woman involved to come forward and contact us so we can carry out enquiries.”
Anyone with information has been asked to contact police on 101 quoting log number 924 of 5 September 2026.
At this stage, police have not said that an offence has been established, and ITV News reported that the force was not yet investigating the incident.
Footage appears to show protester grabbed
Videos shared online appear to show the woman being removed from the conference hall by security staff while members of the audience reach towards her.
Several reports say the footage appears to show her hair being pulled and her head being grabbed. Other footage appears to show a man striking towards the protester with a walking stick or crutch.
No criminal finding has been made against any individual shown in the footage.
Farage speech disrupted repeatedly
The incident occurred during a series of protests that interrupted Farage’s keynote conference speech.
Demonstrators were removed from the main hall on several occasions after standing up and shouting during the Reform leader’s address.
Farage later rejected criticism of the way protesters were removed, arguing that Reform events were repeatedly targeted by people trying to disrupt them and that criticism was one-sided.
Climate Resistance claims responsibility for protest
Activist group Climate Resistance said it was behind the protest and criticised the treatment of the woman.
The group said it was “horrified at the violence” it believed had been directed at protesters and said the woman was considering whether to contact police.
Those comments represent the group’s account of the incident and do not amount to a police finding that an assault occurred.
Reform figures respond
Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf was asked about footage showing the incident and said he condemned people being punched.
Party chairman Lee Anderson also referred to the man seen with a walking stick, saying he did not condone such behaviour before making a joke about collecting money for a replacement walking stick.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, now a Reform member, said nobody should be violent but argued that people entering the conference to disrupt proceedings should not expect “gentle treatment”.
No complaint received at time of police statement
The key legal distinction is that West Midlands Police has issued an appeal and is seeking information, but the woman had not made a complaint at the time of the force’s statement.
Police have therefore not announced that any person has been arrested, charged or accused by the force of committing a criminal offence in relation to the incident.
Any further police action will depend on the evidence available and whether the woman or other witnesses provide information.