Essex Police have performed a dramatic U-turn, admitting they escorted pro-migrant demonstrators to a controversial asylum hotel in Epping after initially denying the allegations – prompting calls from Nigel Farage for “heads to roll” in the force.
The admission came after officers were confronted with video footage showing them walking alongside masked activists from Stand Up to Racism as they marched through the streets to the Bell Hotel on 17 July. The arrival of approximately 40 counter-protesters coincided with an escalation in violence at what had been a peaceful demonstration by local residents.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper defended the decision, stating: “We have a reasonable duty to protect people who want to exercise their rights. In terms of bringing people to the hotel, the police have a duty to facilitate free assembly.
Initial Denial Before Evidence Emerges
The force initially denied facilitating the counter-protesters’ arrival at the Bell Hotel, where hundreds of local residents had gathered to protest the housing of asylum seekers. However, when presented with video evidence clearly showing marked Essex Police vehicles and officers escorting the group, officials were forced to acknowledge their involvement.
“We would only ever take people away from protest if we felt there was an immediate threat to people or property, to free up police resources, to protect others, or to prevent additional violence,” Hooper explained. “In Epping, officers took all three of those into account before making their decisions.”
The backtrack has sparked fierce criticism from politicians and residents alike, with many arguing the police action exacerbated an already tense situation.
Farage Demands Accountability
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage launched a scathing attack on Essex Police’s handling of the situation. “I didn’t want to believe this had happened, and then I saw the video,” he said. “It’s an absolute disgrace, and the police’s priorities need urgently looking at.”
He later added on social media: “Essex Police escorted protesters to the hotel in Epping to force a confrontation. Initially, they denied that it had ever happened in the first place. Heads must roll.”
The controversy has raised questions about police impartiality and their role in managing competing demonstrations.
Violence Erupts as Groups Clash
Footage shared on social media showed the confrontation escalated significantly after the arrival of the counter-protesters, with objects thrown and injuries sustained on both sides. Eight police officers were injured during the clashes on Thursday evening, with one officer struck in the face with a bottle requiring hospital treatment.
Orla Minihane, described as a leader among the anti-migrant protesters, said residents who had been peacefully protesting over safety concerns felt police were almost forcing a “confrontation” between the two groups.
“What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it’s hooliganism,” Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow countered, warning that those responsible “can expect to be held accountable.”
Sexual Assault Charges Spark Protests
The protests were initially triggered by the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker, who was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
Kebatu, who had arrived in the UK just eight days before the alleged offences on 29 June, has denied all charges and was remanded in custody. His trial is scheduled to begin on 26 August.
The charges galvanised local opposition to the Bell Hotel’s use as asylum accommodation, with protesters chanting “Save our kids” and “Send them home” during demonstrations that have drawn crowds exceeding 1,000 people.
Council Leader Calls for Hotel Closure
Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread has demanded the immediate closure of the accommodation, describing the situation as a “powder keg” that could explode into further violence.
I understand families who are deeply upset by what’s happened and I really get it,” Whitbread told the BBC. From day one, Epping Forest District Council had a position of ‘this was the wrong location for this hotel and it’s a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen.’
The Conservative councillor has been vocal in his opposition to the Home Office’s decision to house asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel without consulting local authorities. “Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable,” he stated.
Police Defend Actions Amid Criticism
Essex Police have strongly defended their handling of the protests, with Anslow stating: “We don’t take sides, we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt — plain and simple.”
He dismissed online criticism as “rubbish circulating online that is designed to do nothing more than inflame tensions and trouble.”
The force revealed that policing the incidents in Epping has already cost over £100,000 – money they said would be better spent “continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.
Political Pressure Mounts
Local Conservative MPs Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart have joined calls for the Home Office to stop housing asylum seekers at both the Bell Hotel and the nearby Phoenix Hotel in Bobbingworth.
“Labour made promises that they would end the use of asylum hotels. They also made promises on illegal immigration, but on their watch this has markedly gone up,” the MPs said in a joint statement.
A petition organised by Councillor Whitbread calling for the closure of both hotels has gathered more than 4,500 signatures, highlighting widespread local opposition to the facilities.
Arrests and Charges
Six people have been charged with offences related to the disorder in Epping. Dean Smith, 51, of Epping, was charged with violent disorder after allegedly participating in the violence on Thursday. Five others remain in custody as investigations continue.
Police have released images of three additional men they wish to speak to in connection with the incidents, as detectives work to identify all those involved in the violence.
The Home Office has maintained that the asylum system is under “unprecedented strain” but has not indicated any immediate plans to close the Epping facilities, despite mounting pressure from local politicians and residents.
The controversy has reignited debate about the use of hotels for asylum accommodation and the challenges of managing community tensions in areas where such facilities are established without local consultation.
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