Skip to main content

AY Audits

AY Audits

Semantic Summary

Anthony Barnes, operating as AY Audits, is one of the most prominent figures in the British far-right auditor movement — a London-based content creator with over 141,000 YouTube subscribers who saw explosive growth during the summer 2025 anti-migrant protests, with monthly views surging from 1 million to 29 million. Active in the far right since around 2018 per HOPE not hate, Barnes specialises in filming outside migrant hotels, confronting security and police, and covering far-right demonstrations. He faced criminal charges in Surrey for breaching a Community Protection Notice at a Horley migrant hotel protest and was identified by The Guardian as a far-right agitator at the June 2026 Henry Nowak murder protests in Southampton. Searchlight Magazine nicknamed him the "hotel inspector" and documented his presence alongside Young Bob at the Southampton riot. He is networked within the broader auditor ecosystem, collaborating with DJE Media, LB Audits, and Society X, though a public feud with DJE Media's Curtis Arnold exposed tensions over doxxing within the scene. Barnes exemplifies the auditor-to-activist pipeline in which filming rights rhetoric masks engagement with organised far-right protest activity, with his content serving as both propaganda and inadvertent evidence used in criminal prosecutions.

Field Detail
Platform YouTube, Facebook, X/Twitter
Category UK auditing / far-right anti-migrant activism
Status Active
Real Name Anthony Barnes
Age 45 (as of 2026)
Location London
Subscribers ~141,000+ (as of June 2026)
YouTube Handle AY Audits (channel appears to be @AYAudits or similar)
X/Twitter @AyAudits_c4n
Facebook "Ay audits" — 29,449 likes

Overview

AY Audits is a UK-based YouTube channel run by Anthony Barnes (aged 45, from London). Barnes is one of the most prominent figures in the British "auditor" movement — individuals who film themselves in public spaces, particularly outside migrant hotels, police stations, and government buildings, asserting a right to film under freedom of expression grounds.

The channel saw explosive growth during the summer of 2025, with views rising from 1 million in May to 29 million by September, driven by coverage of anti-migrant protests and visits to asylum seeker hotels across the country. He has been described as likely earning at least £2,000 per month from YouTube at peak activity. Channel 4 News featured him in their investigation into the "lucrative industry of online auditors," with analysts estimating some auditors earn £10,000-£20,000 per month from ad revenue.

He has been nicknamed the "hotel inspector" by Searchlight Magazine for his focus on auditing migrant accommodation. HOPE not hate reports he has been "active in the far right since around 2018" but only gained significant traction during the summer 2025 anti-migrant protests.

Content Focus

  • Migrant hotel audits: Filming outside and attempting entry to Home Office-contracted hotels housing asylum seekers across England (Epping, Horley, Surrey, Norfolk, and others)
  • Anti-migrant protest coverage: On-the-ground coverage of demonstrations, notably the Bell Hotel protests in Epping (summer 2025)
  • Police station audits: Asserting filming rights outside police stations and government buildings
  • Street interviews: Confrontations with police, security staff, and members of the public
  • High street filming: Documenting urban decay, drug use, and antisocial behaviour

Growth & Reach

  • 134,000+ subs (BBC News, early 2026)
  • 141,000+ subs (The Guardian / Evening Standard, June 2026)
  • Views surged from ~1M/month (May 2025) to ~29M/month (September 2025)
  • Facebook page: 29,449 likes with 179 talking about this
  • Videos regularly achieve 50,000-200,000 views per upload

Notable Appearances & Coverage

Auditor "Grasses" Backlash (June 2026)

Barnes was prominently featured in a Searchlight Magazine investigation (10 June 2026) documenting the far-right turning on auditors whose footage is used to prosecute rioters. He was photographed alongside Young Bob (Thomas Moffitt) at the Southampton riot, and the article noted Barnes as a key figure whose content is being used as evidence. Far-right figures including Dion Wragg, Steve Laws, and Sam Melia have denounced auditors as "grasses" and "degenerates" for filming clear faces of protesters.

The article also noted that gangs of up to 30 auditors are now regular fixtures at anti-migrant protests, and several were spotted at a Pro-Palestine march in Manchester.

Source: Searchlight Magazine — "'Stop filming us' – why the far right is turning on auditor 'grasses'" (10 June 2026)

Henry Nowak Protests — Southampton (June 2026)

Barnes was identified by The Guardian as one of the "far-right agitators" at the violent protests in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak. He was seen filming at the scene where 11 police officers and 1 police dog were injured as crowds attacked officers. The Evening Standard described his channel as having "more than 141,000 subscribers" and noted he is "a frequent presence at far-right events."

Channel 4 News Investigation (2025)

Featured in Channel 4's investigation "Inside the lucrative industry of online 'auditors' targeting migrant hotels in the UK." Analysts cited claimed some content creators in this space earn £10,000-£20,000 per month through advertising revenue. Companies whose ads appeared on these videos included EasyJet and Ocado.

BBC News — Court Appearance (2026)

Covered his court appearance at Guildford Magistrates' Court where he denied breaching a Community Protection Notice.

Searchlight Magazine (March 2026)

Profiled in "Do not feed the animals: confronting the rise of the far-right 'auditors'" — described as specialising in anti-migrant protests and calling himself the "hotel inspector," with 135,000 YouTube subscribers at the time.

Surrey CPN Charge (2025-2026)

Anthony Barnes was charged with failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) after allegedly attending an anti-immigration protest at a hotel in Horley, Surrey in August 2025, in breach of the notice.

Court details:

  • Charge: One count of failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice
  • Plea: Not guilty — denied the charge at Guildford Magistrates' Court
  • Bail: Unconditional
  • Trial: Listed for 26 September 2026 at Guildford Magistrates' Court

Source: BBC News, Magistrates' Blog (Nov 2025), AOL

Criminal History Allegations

Public allegations have been made about Barnes' past, though most are unverified:

  • DJE Media Feud (2026): Following a public feud with fellow auditor Curtis Arnold (DJE Media), claims were made about Barnes having a criminal record including jail time for making threats. DJE Media allegedly doxxed Barnes, revealing personal details
  • 2014 Manhunt allegation: Posts on X/Twitter claim Barnes was the subject of a police manhunt in 2014 for threatening to kill women. This has not been independently verified by mainstream media

Political Positioning & Associations

HOPE not hate describes Barnes as "active in the far right since around 2018." He is a regular presence at:

  • Anti-migrant hotel protests (Epping, Horley, Surrey, Norfolk)
  • Far-right demonstrations (Southampton Henry Nowak protests, June 2026)
  • Tommy Robinson-associated events

He is part of the broader UK auditor network and has collaborated/filmed alongside other auditors including DJE Media, AY Audits, LB Audits, and Society X.

Media Coverage

  • Searchlight Magazine (10 June 2026): "'Stop filming us' – why the far right is turning on auditor 'grasses'" — photographed alongside Young Bob at Southampton
  • The Guardian (4 June 2026): "Who were the far-right agitators at the Henry Nowak protests in Southampton?" — identified as an agitator at the riots
  • Evening Standard (June 2026): "Who were the far-right agitators at Henry Nowak murder protest?" — profiled alongside Tommy Robinson, Laurence Fox, Nick Tenconi
  • Channel 4 News (2025): "Inside the lucrative industry of online 'auditors' targeting migrant hotels in the UK"
  • BBC News (2026): "Anti-immigration protester denies breaking ban from Surrey" — court appearance
  • Searchlight Magazine (March 2026): "Do not feed the animals: confronting the rise of the far-right 'auditors'"
  • East Anglia Bylines (2025): "Lucrative hate: YouTubers target migrant hotels for clicks"
  • HOPE not hate (2026): Case file: Auditors
  • UnHerd (August 2025): "The YouTubers shaping anti-migrant politics"
  • Norwich Evening News (2025): "YouTubers make thousands from Norfolk migrant protest videos"
  • Magistrates' Blog (November 2025): "Social Media Auditors and Community Protection Notices"
  • Novara Media (December 2025): "Meet the YouTubers Terrorising Britain for Clicks"
  • YouTube: AY Audits (search to locate exact handle)
  • X/Twitter: https://x.com/AyAudits_c4n
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ay-audits-61565317535710/

References

  • BBC News: Anti-immigration protester denies breaking ban from Surrey (2026) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c201qzx70lgo
  • The Guardian: Who were the far-right agitators at the Henry Nowak protests? (4 Jun 2026)
  • Evening Standard: Who were the far-right agitators at Henry Nowak murder protest? (Jun 2026)
  • East Anglia Bylines: Lucrative hate: YouTubers target migrant hotels for clicks (2025)
  • HOPE not hate: Case file: Auditors (2026) — https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-auditors/
  • Searchlight Magazine: Do not feed the animals (March 2026) — https://searchlightmagazine.com/2026/03/do-not-feed-the-animals-confronting-the-rise-of-the-far-right-auditors/
  • Magistrates' Blog: Social Media Auditors and Community Protection Notices (Nov 2025) — https://magistrates.blogspot.com/2025/11/social-media-auditors-community-protection-notices.html
  • UnHerd: The YouTubers shaping anti-migrant politics (August 2025)
  • Channel 4 News: Inside the lucrative industry of online 'auditors' targeting migrant hotels
  • Norwich Evening News: YouTubers make thousands from Norfolk migrant protest videos (2025)
  • Novara Media: Meet the YouTubers Terrorising Britain for Clicks (18 Dec 2025)

Known Associations

Auto-generated from cross-references in this archive.

  • Yorkshire Rose — 9 mentions
  • Young Bob — 9 mentions · tagged
  • DJE Media — 7 mentions · tagged
  • LB Audits / Laine Audits — 4 mentions
  • Stripey Audits / Stripey UK — 4 mentions
  • Laudits — 3 mentions
  • Tommy Robinson — 2 mentions · tagged
  • Sam — 2 mentions
  • Society X — 2 mentions
  • CP Reports — 2 mentions
  • Nick Tenconi — 1 mention
  • Sam Melia — 1 mention
  • Steve Laws — 1 mention
  • Dion Wragg — 1 mention
  • UK Auditor — 1 mention
  • Jermaine Unfiltered — 1 mention
  • News Now Yorkshire — 1 mention
  • UKSploosh — 1 mention

Tags

  • activist
  • anti-immigration
  • auditor
  • ay-audits
  • channel
  • content-creator
  • dje-media
  • facebook
  • far-right
  • free-speech
  • lb-audits
  • london
  • person
  • society-x
  • tommy-robinson
  • twitter
  • youtube

Created: 11 June 2026 Last updated: 12 June 2026

No comments to display

Back to top