Ben-Julian Harrington rejects resignation calls as protest policing costs soar to £100,000
Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington has dismissed calls for his resignation following violent clashes outside an asylum seeker hotel in Epping, insisting his force acted impartially throughout a week of protests that left eight officers injured and resulted in multiple arrests.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Harrington confirmed ten people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel. The protests, which began peacefully before descending into what officers described as “mindless thuggery”, have cost Essex Police £100,000 in just one week.
“The issue is not about my resignation. It is about the people of Epping,” Harrington told reporters when pressed about stepping down. It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy. That is for government.”
The chief constable’s comments come amid mounting criticism over his force’s handling of the protests, particularly after Essex Police admitted escorting counter-demonstrators to the hotel site. Migration minister Seema Malhotra said on Wednesday that Essex Police “have questions to answer” over their tactics.
I will leave it to Essex police to answer those questions,” Malhotra told LBC Radio, whilst acknowledging that separating rival groups was standard police procedure at protests and football matches.
Series of Violent Incidents
The demonstrations began on 13 July following the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. The charges relate to an incident where he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Kebatu, who denies all charges, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody ahead of a two-day trial scheduled for August 26.
What started as peaceful protests on Thursday 17 July quickly escalated when individuals described by police as arriving “intent on causing trouble” joined the demonstrations. Protesters threw bottles, eggs, and fireworks at officers, with some climbing on police vans and smashing windows.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow condemned the violence, stating: “What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it’s hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable.
Sunday’s protest saw more than 100 demonstrators gather outside the hotel, chanting “save our kids” and “send them home”. Some held placards reading “deport foreign criminals” and “defend our girls”, whilst others set off blue and red flares.
Multiple Arrests and Charges
Five men have been charged with violent disorder following the protests. Dean Smith, 51, of Madells, Epping; Jonathan Glover, 47, of Springfields, Waltham Abbey; Stuart Williams, 36, of Duck Lane, Thornwood; and Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, are all due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.
Williams and Smith have been remanded in custody, whilst Glover and Silk are on conditional bail. A fifth man, Joe McKenna, 34, of Highcliffe Road, Wickford, was charged with failing to remove a face covering when ordered to do so and remains on bail until a hearing on 24 September.
District Judge Christopher Williams was told of a WhatsApp group with 600 members who were planning to attend the hotel, illustrating the scale of organisation behind the protests.
Political Pressure Mounts
Local Conservative MPs Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart have called for the immediate closure of both the Bell Hotel and another facility in North Weald, describing the situation as “increasingly alarming and distressing in recent days.
Chris Whitbread, Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, labelled the situation a “powder keg” and reiterated long-standing opposition to the Home Office’s use of the Bell Hotel for asylum accommodation.
We have consistently shared concerns with the Home Office that the Bell Hotel is an entirely unsuitable location for this facility and should close,” Whitbread said in a statement.
The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has written to the Home Secretary requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the ongoing use of hotels in the Epping Forest District to accommodate newly arrived asylum seekers.
Force Defends Impartiality
Harrington robustly defended his officers against accusations of bias, insisting Essex Police had maintained strict impartiality throughout the incidents.
“The only protection that officers have given is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view,” he stated.
When questioned about whether one side had received preferential treatment, Harrington responded firmly: “No, I don’t accept that. We are not being partial in any way, shape or form.”
The chief constable sought to reassure concerned parents about safety, promising “a robust policing operation” with “hundreds of officers on duty” to ensure “Essex is safe.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper, who spoke at an earlier press conference on Friday, revealed that the eight injured officers had sustained hand injuries, cuts and grazes during Thursday’s violent disorder.
Counter-Protest Controversy
One of the most contentious moments came when an elderly woman participating in a counter-demonstration was surrounded by masked protesters who shouted abuse at her. Police were forced to escort her from the area for her safety as missiles were thrown in her direction.
The incident highlighted the volatile nature of the protests, with anti-racism activists from groups including Stand Up To Racism attempting to stage counter-demonstrations near the hotel.
Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said peaceful demonstrators from local and trade unions had been attacked by groups led by the far right. “It is important to stand up against division; otherwise, we will witness a pogrom-type movement,” he warned.
Broader Context
The Epping protests occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions around asylum accommodation across the UK, coming ahead of the first anniversary of last summer’s riots which saw attempts to burn down hotels housing asylum seekers.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, called for an acceleration of plans to end the use of asylum hotels, which he said had become “a flashpoint for tension in communities” and “cost billions to the taxpayer.
Chief Superintendent Anslow emphasised that peaceful protest remained a fundamental right but warned that criminal behaviour would not be tolerated. “To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won’t win,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman condemned the violence, stating: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. But it’s clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack.”
As Essex Police maintains an enhanced presence in Epping, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of using hotels for asylum accommodation and the ability of local forces to manage the resulting community tensions.
The £100,000 policing bill represents money that Chief Superintendent Anslow said would be “much rather spent on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.
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Ben-Julian Harrington rejects resignation calls as protest policing costs soar to £100,000
Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington has dismissed calls for his resignation following violent clashes outside an asylum seeker hotel in Epping, insisting his force acted impartially throughout a week of protests that left eight officers injured and resulted in multiple arrests.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Harrington confirmed ten people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel. The protests, which began peacefully before descending into what officers described as “mindless thuggery”, have cost Essex Police £100,000 in just one week.
“The issue is not about my resignation. It is about the people of Epping,” Harrington told reporters when pressed about stepping down. It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy. That is for government.”
The chief constable’s comments come amid mounting criticism over his force’s handling of the protests, particularly after Essex Police admitted escorting counter-demonstrators to the hotel site. Migration minister Seema Malhotra said on Wednesday that Essex Police “have questions to answer” over their tactics.
I will leave it to Essex police to answer those questions,” Malhotra told LBC Radio, whilst acknowledging that separating rival groups was standard police procedure at protests and football matches.
Series of Violent Incidents
The demonstrations began on 13 July following the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. The charges relate to an incident where he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Kebatu, who denies all charges, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody ahead of a two-day trial scheduled for August 26.
What started as peaceful protests on Thursday 17 July quickly escalated when individuals described by police as arriving “intent on causing trouble” joined the demonstrations. Protesters threw bottles, eggs, and fireworks at officers, with some climbing on police vans and smashing windows.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow condemned the violence, stating: “What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it’s hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable.
Sunday’s protest saw more than 100 demonstrators gather outside the hotel, chanting “save our kids” and “send them home. Some held placards reading “deport foreign criminals” and “defend our girls”, whilst others set off blue and red flares.
Multiple Arrests and Charges
Five men have been charged with violent disorder following the protests. Dean Smith, 51, of Madells, Epping; Jonathan Glover, 47, of Springfields, Waltham Abbey; Stuart Williams, 36, of Duck Lane, Thornwood; and Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, are all due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.
Williams and Smith have been remanded in custody, whilst Glover and Silk are on conditional bail. A fifth man, Joe McKenna, 34, of Highcliffe Road, Wickford, was charged with failing to remove a face covering when ordered to do so and remains on bail until a hearing on 24 September.
District Judge Christopher Williams was told of a WhatsApp group with 600 members who were planning to attend the hotel, illustrating the scale of organisation behind the protests.
Political Pressure Mounts
Local Conservative MPs Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart have called for the immediate closure of both the Bell Hotel and another facility in North Weald, describing the situation as “increasingly alarming and distressing in recent days”.
Chris Whitbread, Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, labelled the situation a “powder keg” and reiterated long-standing opposition to the Home Office’s use of the Bell Hotel for asylum accommodation.
We have consistently shared concerns with the Home Office that the Bell Hotel is an entirely unsuitable location for this facility and should close,” Whitbread said in a statement.
The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has written to the Home Secretary requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the ongoing use of hotels in the Epping Forest District to accommodate newly arrived asylum seekers.
Force Defends Impartiality
Harrington robustly defended his officers against accusations of bias, insisting Essex Police had maintained strict impartiality throughout the incidents.
“The only protection that officers have given is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view,” he stated.
When questioned about whether one side had received preferential treatment, Harrington responded firmly: “No, I don’t accept that. We are not being partial in any way, shape or form.”
The chief constable sought to reassure concerned parents about safety, promising “a robust policing operation” with “hundreds of officers on duty” to ensure “Essex is safe.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper, who spoke at an earlier press conference on Friday, revealed that the eight injured officers had sustained hand injuries, cuts and grazes during Thursday’s violent disorder.
Counter-Protest Controversy
One of the most contentious moments came when an elderly woman participating in a counter-demonstration was surrounded by masked protesters who shouted abuse at her. Police were forced to escort her from the area for her safety as missiles were thrown in her direction.
The incident highlighted the volatile nature of the protests, with anti-racism activists from groups including Stand Up To Racism attempting to stage counter-demonstrations near the hotel.
Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said peaceful demonstrators from local and trade unions had been attacked by groups led by the far right. “It is important to stand up against division; otherwise, we will witness a pogrom-type movement,” he warned.
Broader Context
The Epping protests occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions around asylum accommodation across the UK, coming ahead of the first anniversary of last summer’s riots which saw attempts to burn down hotels housing asylum seekers.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, called for an acceleration of plans to end the use of asylum hotels, which he said had become “a flashpoint for tension in communities” and “cost billions to the taxpayer”.
Chief Superintendent Anslow emphasised that peaceful protest remained a fundamental right but warned that criminal behaviour would not be tolerated. “To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won’t win,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman condemned the violence, stating: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. But it’s clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack.
As Essex Police maintains an enhanced presence in Epping, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of using hotels for asylum accommodation and the ability of local forces to manage the resulting community tensions.
The £100,000 policing bill represents money that Chief Superintendent Anslow said would be “much rather spent on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.
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Image Credit:
Essex Police chiefs and clergy – Photo by Roger Harris, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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