Eight arrests in immigration and slavery inquiry in Essex
Sgt Matt Dalby said: "We were looking for evidence of organised immigration crime and to identify victims of modern-day slavery and forced labour, as well as suspects that may be responsible for facilitating that kind of criminality."Those detained may initially be reluctant to tell us why they're at the premises but once they are spoken to away from that environment, they may disclose they are victims of exploitation."He added: "This was an intelligence-led operation, and we will continue to ask the public to report to us whenever they have suspicions or are worried about the welfare of individuals they may encounter."
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Sky News
27 minutes ago
- Sky News
Essex council asks High Court to remove migrants from hotel
An Essex council has asked the High Court to stop migrants being housed at a hotel, following weeks of protests. Epping Forest District Council applied on Tuesday for an interim High Court injunction to prevent the Bell Hotel being used to accommodate asylum seekers. The council is requesting that the ban take effect 14 days after the injunction is approved. It is citing "the clear risk of further escalating community tensions" and calls for the present situation "to be brought under control" urgently. The council is also requesting a declaration that using the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers is not the same as using it as a regular hotel, and therefore is not permitted under planning rules. "The current situation cannot go on. If the Bell Hotel was a nightclub we could have closed it down long ago," said Cllr Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping Forest District Council. "So far as the council is aware, there is no criminal record checking of individuals who might only have been in the country a matter of days before being housed at the hotel." Cllr Whitbread pointed out there are five schools and a residential care home within the vicinity of the hotel, and that the use by the Home Office of the premises for asylum seekers could further escalate community tensions that are "already at a high", as well as "the risk of irreparable harm to the local community". "This will only increase with the start of the new school year. We are frustrated that the Home Office continues not to listen," he said. Weeks of protests Demonstrations began on 13 July after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. An Ethiopian man, who had only recently arrived on a small boat, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault of a girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies sexual assault and is due to stand trial this month. 2:54 Essex Police recently implemented dispersal orders before some protests, allowing officers to order anyone suspected of causing anti-social behaviour to leave the area. The force said 25 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, and a total of 16 people have now been charged. 'Unprecedented' levels of disruption Epping Forest council said it has resorted to this latest action due to the "unprecedented levels of protest and disruption" in the community. The protests have placed the police "under severe pressure", as additional police officers had to be drafted in from other forces, it said. At a recent council meeting in July 2025, Epping Forest councillors voted unanimously to call on the Home Office to "immediately" close the Bell Hotel. They also called for the phased closure of the Phoenix Hotel in North Weald, which is also providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. "We are doing this on behalf of our local community. We are a small district council. We have tried to help the Home Office see the situation cannot go on, but central government is not listening," Cllr Whitbread said. "We should not have to take this fight to the High Court, but we are left with no choice. It is now up to the judge," he added.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Former Billericay head teacher found guilty of child sex offences
A former secondary school head teacher has been found guilty of committing sexual offences against a Brumby was at Mayflower High School in Billericay, Essex, when the allegations came to light in 64-year-old, of Wellands in Witham, Essex, was convicted by a jury at Southend Crown Court of five offences, including two counts of rape of a ex-wife Elaine Brumby, of Kiln Way, Great Wakering, Essex, was found not guilty of all six charges she was accused of. Lee Brumby was suspended from the high school when the historical allegations of the charges related to any pupil at the school, past or present. The offences took place between 2001 and had also worked at Southend High School for Girls, St Clere's School in Standford-le-Hope, and at a school in briefly worked at a police Brumby had told the trial: "I'm struggling to know why these allegations have been made".But the jury returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for just over 13 found him guilty of five counts: two of rape, two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one of indecency with a offences all related to the same Brumby was found not guilty of four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual this week, Judge Richard Conley had summed up how she had told jurors she was not her ex-husband's "partner in crime".The proceedings this month were a retrial, after the original jury was discharged in November due to administrative difficulties. Lee Brumby is due to be sentenced at the same court on 19 September. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Interim High Court injunction lodged by council in bid to stop asylum hotel
An Essex council has applied for an interim High Court injunction in a bid to stop asylum seekers from being housed at a local hotel. Documents relating to the Bell Hotel in Epping were lodged with the High Court in London on Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council said in a statement. A series of protests have been held outside the hotel in recent weeks, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies sexual assault and is due to stand trial this month. Council leader Chris Whitbread said the use of the hotel as asylum accommodation risks causing 'irreparable harm to the local community'. The council had unanimously voted last month to urge the Government 'to immediately and permanently close' the hotel 'for the purposes of asylum processing'. The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, had also reportedly called on the Home Secretary to review the use of the hotel for housing asylum seekers. In a statement, Mr Whitbread said: 'The current situation cannot go on. If the Bell Hotel was a nightclub, we could have closed it down long ago. 'So far as the council is aware, there is no criminal record checking of individuals who might only have been in the country a matter of days before being housed at the hotel. 'There are five schools and a residential care home within the vicinity of the hotel. The use by the Home Office of the premises for asylum seekers poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community. 'This will only increase with the start of the new school year. We are frustrated that the Home Office continues not to listen.' He continued: 'In our view, placing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel is a clear breach of planning permission. It is not in use as a hotel, and it doesn't function as a hotel. 'The establishment of a centre to accommodate asylum seekers in this particular location, in close proximity to five schools, a residential care home, and the shops and amenities of the market town of Epping, is not appropriate in planning terms.' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed women in the area have 'stopped jogging in the park because there are men lurking in bushes', because of concerns about the hotel. Following a visit to Epping on Monday, Mrs Badenoch told reporters: 'The people who I spoke to are having a lot of concerns about safety. Mothers told me that they're worried about their daughters going to school. They're getting harassed. They stopped jogging in the park because there are men lurking in bushes. 'Communities shouldn't have to be paying for this. And what I saw in Epping really, really upset me. I can see why many of those people are protesting.'
