Epping asylum seekers afraid to exit hotel during protests

BBC News

5 days ago

Asylum seekers living at a hotel focused on by protesters have been left too scared to go outside, a charity boss said.Rival groups have clashed outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, during several demonstrations since 13 July.Steve Smith, the chief executive of Refugee charity Care4Calais, claimed at least one of the migrants had been chased by protesters while out for a walk.Police officers have made 18 arrests and charged ten people in connection with disorder outside the hotel on High Road.
Tensions heightened on 17 July, when missiles were thrown and constables were hurt during clashes.
Mr Smith, whose staff have been supporting the asylum seekers, said the alleged violence left many "too worried" to go outside."It's a pretty depressing situation to find yourself in, when you've already been through significant terrors elsewhere in the world," he said."Some of the residents have told us how they've been chased by the far-right when they simply went out for a walk or to buy milk."It reminded them of the reasons why they've been forced to leave their home countries in the first place," he added. The charity boss said an 80-year-old worker had a brick thrown at him during an episode of disorder outside the hotel.Asylum seekers have been housed there since 2020, it is understood.But on Thursday evening, Epping Forest District Council voted to urge the government to close the hotel, which the BBC understands is housing about 140 men.The venue has been thrust into the national spotlight after a man living there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody.
During the council meeting, Janet Whitehouse, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said: "I agree that The Bell Hotel needs to be closed but we don't know the circumstances of the individuals who have been placed there. "Sadly there are many places in the world where there is conflict and people have to flee."Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of the authority, suggested there were "not the facilities here to support them" in Epping.
'Real world consequences'
Ben-Julian Harrington, the chief constable of Essex Police, urged people to not spread misinformation online about the allegations.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said malicious rumours were having "real world consequences", but stressed most protesters had been peaceful.Enver Solomon, the chief executive of Refugee Council, added on Friday: "Rhetoric that dehumanises people who've come to Britain seeking sanctuary creates a climate where violence can flourish."He accused a "violent majority" of hijacking concerns about asylum hotels, stating their use had become "flashpoints".
People living in Epping who have been protesting against the use of the hotel as migrant accommodation have told the BBC they felt less safe in the town since it was used for asylum seekers.Whitbread told BBC Essex: "I walk up and down the High Street all the time. I've lived in Epping all my life, I've never seen anything like this and I talk to people all the time, so I know that the concerns they have are real."Police received 2,000 fewer reports of crime in the Epping district in the year to the end of June, compared with the 12 months to June 2019.In total, 9,049 offences were reported over the most recent period.A Home Office spokesman said it was working to close asylum hotels and "restore order".
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