Latest news with #BenJulianHarrington
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Total arrests at Epping asylum hotel protests rises to 16
The number of people arrested in connection with protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has risen to than 1,000 people have attended demonstrations at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on 13, 17 and 20 Police chief Ben-Julian Harrington said "thugs and vandals" hijacked the second protest, leading to missiles being thrown between rival force warned that more suspects were being identified, adding: "There will be more arrests in the coming days." People causing trouble have been accused of exploiting what had been a peaceful protest on 17 has been staged at the hotel since a man living there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody. Of the 16 arrested, six people have been charged with offences including violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to remove a face covering."We've been analysing footage and we have investigators and trained detectives working on this operation," said Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper."Put simply: If you turn up to try to cause trouble, you won't get away with it."A dispersal order was imposed until 08:00 BST on Friday in response to further planned gave officers extra powers to direct people to leave the area or face Laing, who was the Conservative MP for Epping Forest until 2024, called for calm during a speech in the House of known as Baroness Laing of Elderslie, she urged politicians to calm the "riotous situation" and stop peddling "misinformation" about the protests. It followed Mr Harrington rebutting criticism aimed at his officers over how they dealt with pro-migrant were accused of driving the group to the hotel, leading to disorder and later attracting outrage from Reform UK leader Nigel Mr Harrington dismissed allegations that his officers had inflamed tensions or given preferential treatment to one Forest District Council is due to debate the hotel's use for asylum seekers at a meeting on Thursday evening. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Incredibly, Essex Police have just made a bad situation worse
The Chief Constable of Essex, Ben-Julian Harrington, spoke to journalists yesterday about the policing operation in Epping on July 17 and the violent clashes, wrecked police vans, and injured officers that resulted on that and later evenings. The disorder occurred when a peaceful protest was held by people from the town against illegal migrants housed in a hotel where one of the occupants had been charged with sexually assaulting a local girl. There were many questions for Essex police to answer, including the allegation first denied, then accepted, by the force that they escorted counter-protestors – some of who were masked – into an already volatile situation. He called his own press conference where journalists were quite reasonably expecting him to explain these odd tactical choices. He ended 20 minutes of what can only be described as bloviating word salad telling Charlie Peters of GB News: 'It's not for me to comment and criticise or indeed examine that operation.' It begs the question of what the press conference was for? And indeed, what is a Chief Constable for? Mr Harrington spent a lot of his opening remarks defending the handling of the protest as a valiant attempt by police to guarantee the rights of free assembly and free speech for everyone. The Human Rights Act was invoked more than once. Yet there is a profound misunderstanding in this interpretation of article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which is enacted in our domestic law. This is the right that covers free assembly, including protests. Importantly, it is not an absolute right, but heavily qualified. Signatory states including the UK can lawfully restrict that right in the following circumstances: 'in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.' If this seems a bit esoteric, I take it to mean that far from escorting masked protestors into an emotional gathering of townspeople, there was every right and reason for Essex constabulary to have kept this rabble from connecting with the larger, until then peaceful, gathering outside the Bell Hotel. But this was in fact facilitated. As it was, the policing operation was clearly overwhelmed. Leadership is about admitting mistakes as well as celebrating success. While it is clearly not in anyone's interests to disclose tactics for future demonstrations, this could have been an opportunity for some welcome reflection on a police response that seemed perversely determined to drive two antithetical groups with violent fringes into each other. As usual, the front-line police officers stuck in the middle suffered. Beyond what I think was an obvious and serious failure to anticipate and properly manage a foreseeable public order risk, there are bigger fish to fry than Mr Harrington's bizarre obfuscation. Illegal migrants housed in hotels across the country have been parachuted into small communities usually with no consent from locals and precious little risk assessment by authorities. Chris Philp, the shadow Home Secretary, has complained that there 'hundreds and hundreds' of 'illegal immigrants' who are housed in 'taxpayer-funded hotels' and have committed 'multiple cases of rape, sexual assault, theft, violence and arson.' The cultural dissonance between predominantly young migrant men from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Eritrea, and Sudan and the local population, Philp said, is producing a 'public safety crisis' for women and girls. The police, learning nothing from last year's spasm of national social disorder after the murders of children in Southport, has called the disorder 'thuggery.' That is the end of people not being listened to, not the beginning. Violence like what we've seen in Epping and will see elsewhere should never be endorsed. But dismissing legitimate fears as bigotry and tolerating disastrous policing appears to be as big a problem.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Heads must roll': Fury as UK police admit escorting pro-migrant protesters to Epping asylum hotel
Police in the UK have admitted escorting pro-migrant protesters to an asylum hotel before violence erupted. Essex Police had initially denied it brought demonstrators from Stand Up to Racism to the Bell Hotel in Epping, 30 kilometres northeast of London, before clashes with anti-migrant protesters last Sunday, July 17. The force changed its tune after being shown footage of the activists apparently being led by officers from a station to outside the hotel while holding placards. Six people have been charged with offences related to the disorder. However, while accepting it provided a 'foot cordon', the force has denied claims today it specifically 'bussed' the counter-protesters to the hotel. Essex Police is continuing to face heavy scrutiny over its handling of the protests. In a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said, 'It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy.' He added that the police are there to 'make sure that people can go about their rights and business lawfully' and not judge asylum policy. Asked if he is considering his position the Essex Police chief said, 'The issue is not about my resignation, the issue is about an effective policing operation.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage earlier blasted the police chief and said 'there is no way chief constable BJ Harrington can stay in position'. A spokesperson for the force added on Wednesday evening, 'Misinformation has circulated online suggesting we 'bussed in' counter protesters during a recent protest in Epping on Thursday 17 July. 'This is categorically untrue. 'Groups of protesters and counter-protesters — each of which have a legal right to peacefully protest in a public location — attempted to travel to the Bell Hotel on foot, to demonstrate outside the site. 'This is their right and it is not for the police to prevent any one group from doing so, if they are doing so lawfully and peacefully. 'However, officers were aware of a need to keep the groups separate and to keep the peace. 'Therefore, officers ensured they maintained a presence around each group. This also took place on foot. 'This effectively constituted a walking cordon around a group of counter protesters as they walked through Epping in the direction of the protest. 'No counter protesters were brought to the scene via police transport. 'Footage we are releasing shows the counter protesters arriving on foot and being approached by opposing protesters. 'The two groups were separated, and the counter protesters eventually left, surrounded by officers. 'We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing protesters getting into police vehicles. 'This relates to the later use of three police carriers to transport some protesters away from the scene after disorder escalated. 'This was done for their safety, to free up police resources and to prevent additional violence.' Hotel prepared for more migrants It comes as the near 500-room Britannia Hotel in London's Canary Wharf is currently preparing for migrants to arrive. Photos today show new beds and mattresses being unloaded and carried into the four star hotel in the heart of the capital's swanky docklands, and where rooms can typically cost up to £469 ($965) a night. A spokesman for Tower Hamlets council said, 'We are aware of the government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. 'It is important that the government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.' The Home Office has reserved more than 400 beds at the Britannia International Hotel, agreeing a deal for £81 ($167) per night for each migrant who stays there. It has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there. The Home Office reserves beds in empty hotel rooms in case of a surge in crossings over the summer period. Home Office sources revealed to The Sun that the average cost per night for a hotel room for a migrant is now £118.87 ($244.60), down from £162.16 ($333.68) in March 2023. Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the UK taxpayer £5.77 million ($11.87 million) a day. According to websites such as the hotel is not taking reservations. Police were seen guarding outside last night as protesters gathered. The hotel sits on the waterfront of the South Dock. Epping chaos Chaos was sparked outside the hotel in Epping last week after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The unrest saw protesters launching themselves on riot vans, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of 'hooliganism'. One was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel. Another man had his teeth knocked out after riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash. Mr Farage said 'heads will roll' over the escort, which he alleged was done to 'force a confrontation'. He added, 'Initially they denied that it had ever happened in the first place.' The politician had previously said, 'I didn't want to believe this had happened and then I saw the video. 'It's an absolute disgrace, and the police's priorities need urgently looking at.' Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said, '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. '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. 'In Epping, officers took all three of those into account before making their decisions.' Cops arrested two men, aged 36, and 47, on suspicion of violent disorder under Section 2 of the Public Order Act. A 51-year-old has also now been charged with violent disorder. A 34-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of breaching Section 60AA of the Public Order Act. Meanwhile, two teens aged 17 and 16, were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and going equipped to cause criminal damage, respectively. The force confirmed eight officers were injured in the clashes. The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who was arrested and later 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. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, denies sexual assault. He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges. His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes. Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000 ($206,000). There are about 210 hotels under contracts with the Home Office to house migrants. A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrate's courts already this year. Sir Keir Starmer released a statement in response to the growing tensions. 'Well, I think it's obviously important that communities know that we are working to reduce the number of asylum hotels,' said the PM's spokesperson. 'That is a clear government policy. But it's also important that legitimate protest doesn't cross over into something else, and we would always hope that communities would respect that. 'But we are, and I think the Prime Minister is on record as saying, about the need to cut migration, both lawfully and illegal migration, and that is something that you're seeing in working on tirelessly over the last year, whether it be the agreement with the French last week or the agreement with the German government yesterday, that is a priority for this government. 'It is something that requires international solutions, and that is why you're seeing this flurry of activity from this government to tackle these gangs from every possible angle.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Essex Police directly facilitated migrant unrest. Heads must roll
The recent events from the Bell Hotel in Epping have been extraordinary. Following an alleged assault of a 14-year-old girl by an illegal migrant housed in the hotel, many local women, children and families who were understandably concerned for their own safety turned out to protest. Ordinary, decent people with reasonable concerns organised peacefully to stand up for their communities. And for that, the people of Epping must be commended. However, the narrative spun by the mainstream media is that the protest turned violent as a result of out-of-town far-Right thugs. Whilst undoubtedly some did turn up, the footage that emerged on Tuesday blew this story wide open. Despite Essex Police initially trying to cover it up, new footage showed hard-Left groups such as Stand Up to Racism and Antifa being given the red carpet treatment, with the force literally escorting and bussing masked thugs around at the protest. Unsurprisingly, soon after their arrival the violent scenes we've seen across the media erupted. There's no doubt in my mind that, through their actions, Essex Police directly facilitated the unrest we saw. They have been caught red-handed helping to light the fuse that led to violence. This is simply unacceptable. It's nothing short of an extraordinary and disgraceful act. Surely, the positions of chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington and police and the crime commissioner are now untenable. How could they stay in post when their force has been almost complicit in encouraging an escalation that put the safety and wellbeing of ordinary, honest people at risk? Whilst the media continues to portray genuine local people who turned out to protest as out-of-town far-right thugs, it turns out the police have been ferrying actual protestors from outside the area. Many of whom were masked and intent on creating violence. Of course, at the very root of the problem lies successive governments' inability to control our borders. Both Labour and the Conservatives have allowed hundreds of thousands illegal migrants to flood into this country. Over 20,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel in 2025 alone. This is almost 50 per cent higher than the same point last year. Labour's indifference to this issue has meant that we're on for a record year – 44,000 people have come over since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. Impossible to check and vet These migrants, predominantly men of fighting age, are often impossible to check and vet. As soon as they wash up on our shores they are dumped into hotels and HMOs [House in Multiple Occupation] in the hearts of our communities. Coming from often alien cultures, these men pose a serious risk to British women and children. In some cases, it has been found that we are importing genuine terrorists who wish to destroy us and our way of life. To compound the problem, Lefty lawyers use and abuse human rights law to keep these people in Britain. Until the Government acknowledges that our membership of the ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights] is hampering our ability to provide the most basic level of security to our people, this problem will persist. No one should underestimate the anger in the country. Essex Police's actions in Epping are yet another example of two-tier policing in Labour's Britain. When coppers are happy to brazenly escort the hard-Left to a peaceful protest, in the full knowledge that they want to cause trouble, it's no wonder that the public feel they can no longer trust law enforcement to act in their best interests. Without trust, law and order in this country is a pipe dream. No wonder Britain is lawless, when it appears those tasked with keeping the peace are doing the exact opposite. This isn't just another scandal; this is a wake-up call. Heads at Essex Police must roll.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Cops ESCORTING lefties IN to Epping to battle angry locals protesting over migrant hotel proves two tier policing exists
JUST when you thought our police forces couldn't get any more inept and ludicrous, along comes Ben-Julian Harrington. As you've probably seen, there has been a week of protests in Epping about the presence there of a hotel stuffed full of asylum seekers. 6 6 One of the migrants has been up in court charged with sexually assaulting a child. Locals say they don't feel safe in their little village any more. They are sick to the back teeth of it. And so they protested, as is their right. However, the whole thing turned very nasty when a bunch of deluded morons from Stand Up To Racism arrived to oppose the views of the locals. A battle took place, likely instigated by the lefties. A battle took place, instigated by the lefties. But it's now been revealed that the Stand Up to Racism rabble were escorted to the hotel where the demonstration was taking place. By the police. At first the coppers lied and said they hadn't escorted the lefties. Then, when footage was revealed of the coppers marching alongside the Stand Up To Racism shower, they fessed up. It is hard to imagine a more stupid action by the old bill. An action which also clearly showed a partisan approach by the police. They were on the side of the lefties. Nigel Farage has described the decision to escort the dunderheads as 'absolutely disgraceful'. He has also called for the Chief Constable of Essex to resign. The Chief Constable of Essex is the aforementioned Ben-Julian Harrington. This is the dimwit responsible for this dangerous, atrocious decision. His first reaction to events was to refuse to resign. Despite the fact that his force facilitated serious disorder on the streets of Epping. And enraged the locals who had been making their points peacefully. Police swarm 4-star London hotel set to house asylum seekers as furious protesters gather outside It is hard to credit, isn't it? They chaperoned people from outside the area into the trouble zone, seemingly to make things much, much worse. And in doing so immediately conveyed the impression that they had taken sides in the dispute. Can you imagine the coppers chaperoning Jews to a march being held by the Hamas groupies, for example? It just wouldn't happen. Ben-Julian Harrington has denied that his force showed a partisan approach. But the evidence suggests that the reverse is the truth of the matter. He should of course resign. And the people of Epping should be given an official apology for this incredible lapse in policing standards. Because this all plays very easily into the notion — surely by now a fact — that we have two-tier policing in this country. Shout hatred about Jewish people while marching in London in your stupid keffiyeh and the police will look on indulgently. Tweet something a bit nasty about setting fire to migrant hotels and you'll be banged up for 30 months. Demonstrate about the enormous number of migrants living for nowt in hotels up and down the country and the coppers will brand you far right and send in the heavies to break up the demo. But if you're on the other side of the argument, they'll actually give you a police escort and show you where the action is taking place. What happened in Epping will infuriate millions of people a long way from the borders of Essex. It is evidence once again that the authorities are not on the side of ordinary people. The police have become the politically correct upholders of injustice. NO ONE GETS OK TO STAY 6 ANGELA RAYNER has warned that we might be in for a summer of rioting. This follows a week of disturbances outside a hotel for migrants in Epping, Essex, and some bother in the Norfolk town of Diss. The Deputy PM has suggested this 'threatens social cohesion'. Too right, Ange. But what are you going to do about it? Nothing whatsoever is the answer. And then when the trouble does flare up, just blame it on the 'far-right'. It's not the far right, Angela. It's the voice of the country. We have had enough. Never mind what stupid international laws we break. Anybody who comes here illegally should be sent back. All of them. No exceptions. And no matter how grim their country of origin. MORE than 100 people have died of starvation in Gaza, say Palestinian officials. Mass starvation is a real threat. And yet Israel continues its policy of destruction. Gradually the country is losing all the friends it had in the west. I am a huge supporter of the Middle East 's only proper democracy. And yes, Hamas should return the remaining hostages. But enough is enough. You don't win wars by starving children. TOUR DE FARCE SO here's what happened when Holly Passmore returned from a short trip to Israel. A few days later the plod came knocking at her door. They asked her why she had been to Israel. She told them to mind their own business. Then the coppers came back with somebody from the Government's totally useless Prevent anti- terror team. They tried to cross examine her again. Incredible. Israel is not a terror state. Going to Israel – which many people do every year – does not make you a terrorist. It makes you a TOURIST. When are the police going to get real and sort out crimes that actually matter to people? IT'S LAST CURTAIN FOR OZ IT'S very sad to hear that Ozzy Osbourne has kicked the bucket. But honestly, how the hell did he reach 76? It's remarkable when you consider the legendary tales of excess. Having been the dark lord of heavy metal in the 1970s, he ended up a kind of national institution. Not bad going for a bloke who once sang: 'Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope?', and who bit the head off a bat – and, reputedly, a dove. But he came across in later years as a rather loveable old Brummie. Truth is, no matter how seriously some of the fans took it, heavy metal has always had a big dose of pantomime in it. And Black Sabbath were probably more pantomime than most. RIP Ozzy. THE Government is to lower the voting age to include 16 and 17-year-olds. It says it is doing this to be more democratic. But it's really doing it because that age group is so dense they all vote Labour or Green. In other words, it is gerrymandering. If it was down to me, I'd raise the voting age to 25. And the age at which you can drive a car too, come to that. Two places we don't want 16-year-olds – in the polling booth and behind a steering wheel. SPOT OF LUNACY I'VE seen some hideous football strips in my time. Dulwich Hamlet's pink and black outfit for a start. Or there's Coventry City 's brown strip from the late 1970s. Or Arsenal 's away kit from two seasons ago that made the players resemble zebras with jaundice. But you'd have to go a long way to beat Forest Green's kit this season. It's kinda lime leopard print. The fans hate it. The only person who seems to like it is club owner and eco-loon Dale Vince. He reckons the shirts are eco-friendly. Probably made from chewed up and spat out bars of nougat. TAKE PRIDE IN LIONESSES FOR SEEING SENSE 6 WOW, you have to say this about the Lionesses. They are nothing if not tenacious. Twice now they've been down and out. And then come back from the dead. They're showing a bit of character politically, too. They are now refusing to do that stupid, demeaning gesture of taking the knee. It is astonishing that this ludicrous act of virtue- signalling is still being performed by football teams. We long ago dropped any pretence that Black Lives Matter was anything other than a thoroughly nasty organisation. So why continue with the gesture that made the group famous? It makes no sense. And, as the Lionesses have said themselves, it does absolutely nothing to combat racism.
