Protesters clashed outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Norfolk last night as unrest spread beyond Epping, where violent demonstrations have erupted over the past week. Around 150 people gathered outside The Park Hotel in Diss at 5.30pm for what organisers called a “peaceful” protest against Home Office plans to house single adult male migrants at the facility.
The demonstration began with approximately 60 protesters shouting “we want our country back” whilst standing opposite the two-star hotel. They were met by about 30 counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism holding signs reading “refugees welcome”.
South Norfolk Council had opposed the change from housing asylum-seeking families to single men, saying it only learned about the plans in a brief email from Whitehall last week. The hotel had previously accommodated families, including women and children, rather than single men, sparking fears the change could bring tension to the market town.
Tensions Escalate in Diss
Footage posted on social media showed protesters, some wearing Union Jack bucket hats and holding St George’s flags, standing on both sides of the road outside the hotel. As tensions mounted, demonstrators crossed the road to confront counter-protesters, with police called to patrol the area.
Loud chants of “stop the boats” and “send them home” could be heard, while protesters, including children, unfurled a banner reading “enough is enough. A counter-protester holding a “Stop the far right” placard attempted to shout over them.
Using a megaphone, a protester confronted those opposing the demonstration with questions about why migrants should be housed in the UK. As the group swelled to about 150 people, the refugee supporters left the hotel and continued elsewhere.
A Norfolk Police spokesman said: “Officers maintained a presence in Denmark Street, Diss, on Monday evening to ensure the safety of all involved at a planned protest outside a commercial premises. No arrests were made.”
Council Opposition to Plans
South Norfolk Council has strongly opposed the Home Office decision to reconfigure the hotel. Deputy leader Graham Minshull said: “The Home Office’s decision to reconfigure the Park Hotel in this way is deeply disappointing and one that this council cannot support.
He expressed particular concern about the lack of local engagement and extremely short notice given. “Our public services are already under pressure, and changes like this should not be made without careful planning and coordination with the local authorities expected to deal with the consequences,” Minshull added.
Council leader Daniel Elmer has written a strongly-worded letter to the Home Office urging reconsideration and requesting a face-to-face meeting. The local authority argues families at the hotel had become part of the community, with children attending local schools.
Epping Violence Continues
The Norfolk protest follows a wave of violent demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel in Epping after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexual assault. He is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl just eight days after arriving in the UK by boat.
Thursday’s protest in Epping started peacefully but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter-protesters and police. Eight police officers were injured, while protests have continued daily since.
Sunday saw the fourth protest in nine days, with around 500 people gathering outside the hotel. Although calmer than previous nights, troublemakers hid their faces in crowds and bottles and firecrackers were thrown at police.
Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said the cost of policing the incidents had reached £100,000. The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe,” he stated.
Political Warnings
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that Britain is a “powder keg” that could explode into another “summer of riots”, repeating the street violence following the Southport murders 12 months ago, unless Labour gets a grip on migrant hotels.
Downing Street condemned the violence in Epping, with the Prime Minister’s spokesman saying: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. But it’s clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned Britain was getting close to “civil disobedience on a vast scale. Speaking just hours before the Norfolk demonstration, he said: “I don’t think anybody in London can understand just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country.
Farage accepted there were “bad eggs that turned up”, including “the usual far-Right thugs”, but added: “Do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do.”
Council Leader’s Stark Warning
Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping Forest District Council, warned that far-right groups could feed off discontent if migrant hotels are not closed. He told BBC Newsnight the council had warned the Home Office the hotel was the wrong site.
It’s a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen,” Whitbread said. He expressed concerns about potential escalation, stating: “My concerns are for next week, or this week, if Tommy Robinson turns up, if we see another example of what happened on Thursday evening.”
Whitbread told Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, he was “not welcome” and should stay away. However, he added: “What we want is the Home Office to act sensibly, recognise that this hotel is in the wrong location for this type of use and close it as quickly as possible.
Robinson Threatens Mass Mobilisation
Tommy Robinson has announced plans to attend a “mass mobilisation” protest in Epping on Sunday, July 27, declaring on social media: “I’m coming to Epping next Sunday ladies and bringing thousands more with me.
However, Robinson later appeared to have second thoughts, posting a video suggesting his presence might not “benefit the cause”. He noted that his attendance might give authorities an “excuse” to “label it a different way”.
Stand Up To Racism has already announced a “No to fascist Tommy Robinson” counter-protest for the same day, raising fears of large-scale disorder if both groups attend in significant numbers.
Broader Political Context
The protests come as Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure to demonstrate leadership amid fears his government is struggling to control the situation. Several difficult weeks have seen attempts to cut the welfare bill defeated and the suspension of four MPs, driving a rift in Labour.
One Labour MP told Politico: “People want him to succeed — they like him, but they need a mission or purpose that can be easily sold to the public and we’ve never had one of those.
Farage has launched a six-week policy blitz on tackling “lawless Britain”, warning: “We’re actually facing, in many parts of our country, nothing short of societal collapse. People are scared to go out to the shops, scared to let their kids out. That is a society that is degraded, and it’s happening very, very rapidly.”
Local Voices and Concerns
Many protesters in both Diss and Epping have emphasised they are local residents concerned about safety rather than far-right activists. Monday night’s peaceful protest in Epping began with women holding hands and chanting “protect our kids”, waving signs reading “Make England safe again” and “I’m not far right – I’m worried about my kids”.
The Home Office has said it is aware of concerns from local authorities, MPs and communities. A spokeswoman stated: “We want to listen and work with them to mitigate their concerns around hotels and other accommodation sites.”
As tensions continue to rise and protests spread to new locations, the government faces mounting pressure to address community concerns while preventing further violence. With Robinson’s threatened mass mobilisation looming and counter-protests planned, authorities fear a significant escalation in the coming days.
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