‘Fash Harry’ in the cells – and blames ‘antifa scumbags’

The arrest warrant didn’t take long to bite. Kent anti-migrant activist ‘Fash’ Harry Hilden, who as we reported, failed to appear in court last week to face charges, found himself spending a couple of days in a cell and back before the bench rather sooner than he might have liked. Hilden then took to Facebook…

Harry Hilden, Faversham march 2025
Harry Hilden – arrested for not turning up to court

The arrest warrant didn’t take long to bite. Kent anti-migrant activist ‘Fash’ Harry Hilden, who as we reported, failed to appear in court last week to face charges, found himself spending a couple of days in a cell and back before the bench rather sooner than he might have liked.

Hilden then took to Facebook to offer his version of events.

The charges, he assured his followers, were “absolute bullshit”, relating, he claimed, to an incident at a march last year in which anti-fascist protesters were in his path and his group “walked through” them.

harry Hilden bemoans two nights in the cells
Harry Hilden bemoans two nights in the cells

“No-one got injured at all,” he insisted. “Just brushed past shoulders.”

The rest of the video was a fairly standard tour of his now familiar grievance repertoire: police harassment, national pride, the “influx of undocumented men from uncivilised cultures,” councils placing migrants in communities, and the reassuring conclusion that “nationalism is not a crime.”

No, but failing to turn up in court is a different matter…

It may be, of course, that he was just so busy posting stuff like this on Facebook that his court appearance completely slipped his mind:

harry Hilden antisemitic post
Harry Hilden – Jews promote mass immigration

This charming offering was, incidentally, ‘liked’ by Jodie Scott, aka Missus Kent, the far right’s favourite caterwauler.


Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

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