Ex-Britain First leader Ashlea Simon arrested in HMO attacks probe

Police investigating about 50 incidents of vandalism across Greater Manchester

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Ashlea Simon, the former co-leader of the far-right Britain First party, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage as part of an investigation into a spate of attacks on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) across Greater Manchester.

Simon was detained at Manchester Airport after returning from a family holiday, she said in a post on X. She wrote that she “hasn’t committed a crime in her life” and believes the arrest is linked to a series of videos she has made since July identifying HMOs in her hometown of Walkden, Salford.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a 37-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage following a number of incidents in which HMOs were vandalised across the region. Five men and a 13-year-old boy have also been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage as part of the investigation.

Police are investigating about 50 incidents across Salford, Tameside and Stockport, in which HMOs and family homes have been vandalised and cars targeted. In one incident, a pig’s head was left outside a home.

Chief Superintendent Marcus Noden said on Friday that officers “suspect vulnerable people are being exploited and paid to damage buildings they believe are HMOs”. He added: “Some of those being exploited are believed to be children and this is just one line of enquiry that we are pursuing.”

Simon left Britain First two years ago and is now the leader of a “pro-English” activism group. In a previous video shared in recent days, she said police had “raided” her home while she was on holiday and she was aware of an “arrest warrant”.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The arrest highlights ongoing tensions around HMOs in local communities, a flashpoint for far-right activism.
It raises questions about the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children, in carrying out vandalism.
The involvement of a former far-right leader underscores the political dimension of anti-HMO activism.

Background

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are properties rented out to three or more unrelated tenants. In some areas, concerns have been raised about the concentration of HMOs and their impact on local amenities and community cohesion. The issue has become a flashpoint for far-right and anti-immigration activism, with activists claiming that HMOs are disproportionately housing migrants.

Key Perspectives

Ashlea Simon: says she hasn’t committed a crime and believes her arrest is linked to videos she made identifying HMOs in Walkden. She claims police “raided” her home while she was on holiday and she was aware of an “arrest warrant”. Greater Manchester Police: say they suspect vulnerable people are being exploited and paid to damage buildings believed to be HMOs, with some exploiters believed to be children.

What to Watch

Whether charges are filed against Simon and the others arrested.
Further arrests as the investigation into the 50 incidents continues.
Community and political reactions to the police’s exploitation allegations.

Sources

Ex-Britain First leader arrested in HMO attacks investigation · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedAshlea Simon, an ex-Britain First leader, was arrested in the HMO attacks investigation.BBC News: “The former co-leader of the far-right Britain First party has said she was arrested as part of an investigation into attacks on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).”
Partly supportedSimon was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage.BBC News: “Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a 37-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of “conspiracy to cause criminal damage””
SupportedPolice are investigating about 50 vandalism incidents across Greater Manchester.BBC News: “Police are investigating about 50 incidents in which HMOs and family homes have been vandalised and cars targeted.”
SupportedSimon said she “hasn’t committed a crime in her life”.BBC News: “Simon, who said in her post that she “hasn’t committed a crime in her life””
SupportedSimon said she was detained at Manchester Airport after returning from a family holiday.BBC News: “In a post on X, Ashlea Simon said she had been held at Manchester Airport after “returning from a family holiday”.”
Partly supportedSimon believed her arrest was linked to videos she had made since July identifying HMOs in Walkden, Salford.BBC News: “In the post, Simon said she believed the arrest was linked to a series of videos she has made since July. In them, she claimed to identify several HMOs in her hometown of Walkden, Salford.”
SupportedGMP said a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage after HMO vandalism incidents.BBC News: “Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a 37-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of “conspiracy to cause criminal damage”, following a spate of incidents in which HMOs were vandalised across the Greater Manchester region.”
SupportedFive men and a 13-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage.BBC News: “Five men have been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage as part of the investigation, along with a 13-year-old boy.”
SupportedThe incidents under investigation were across Salford, Tameside and Stockport, involved HMOs and family homes being vandalised, and included cars being targeted.BBC News: “The news of her arrest came amid a major investigation into a number of vandalism attacks across Salford, Tameside, and Stockport. Police are investigating about 50 incidents in which HMOs and family homes have been vandalised and cars targeted.”
SupportedIn one incident, a pig’s head was left outside a home.BBC News: “In one incident, a pig's head was left outside a home.”
SupportedChief Superintendent Marcus Noden said officers “suspect vulnerable people are being exploited and paid to damage buildings they believe are HMOs”.BBC News: “On Friday, Ch Supt Marcus Noden said officers “suspect vulnerable people are being exploited and paid to damage buildings they believe are HMOs”.”
SupportedNoden added: “Some of those being exploited are believed to be children and this is just one line of enquiry that we are pursuing.”BBC News: ““Some of those being exploited are believed to be children and this is just one line of enquiry that we are pursuing,” he added.”