Two more men charged over Epping asylum hotel protests

BBC News

3 days ago

Two more men have been charged in connection with disorder linked to protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Essex Police said a demonstration outside The Bell Hotel, Epping, Essex, on Sunday was peaceful.A 23-year-old man from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has been charged with violent disorder and criminal damage and a 21-year-old from Buckhurst Hill, Essex, was charged with violent disorder, all charges were in connection with previous protests.They are both due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Essex Police said the men were arrested on Sunday and the 23-year-old was remanded in custody and the 21-year-old had been released on bail.
The force said a Section 14 order stating where and when the protest could take place, a Section 34 order giving officers the power to remove anyone carrying out or believed to be carrying out anti-social behaviour and a Section 60AA order banning face coverings, were put in place in Epping on Sunday. Ch Supt Simon Anslow, from Essex Police, said on Sunday: "I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of this evening's protest."Our role is to ensure that you can do so safely and lawfully, without being stopped by those trying to disrupt it."Today's two arrests are the latest in our ongoing work to identify and locate those who have brought crime to Epping while others protested peacefully."The protests - against the use of the hotel - have followed a man living in the hotel being arrested, and subsequently charged, with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.
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