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BBC News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Police condemn 'thugs and vandals' at Epping asylum seeker hotel protests
Update: Date: 14:48 BST Title: 'This is a powder keg situation,' says council leader Content: Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping, and Alex Burghart, the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, have called for The Bell Hotel to be closed due to the disorder. Chris Whitbread, the Tory leader of Epping Forest District Council, has described it as a "powder keg" situation. In an interview with BBC Newsnight's Victoria Derbyshire, external, he said: "Fair-minded people within the local community, initially protesting peacefully, want the hotel closed. "I have to say, as the leader of the council, that's always been my position and the council's position. This is just not a suitable location. The sooner it's dealt with, the better." He said he sympathised with the "vulnerable" asylum seekers at the hotel but stressed locations that had "less impact on established communities" needed to be found by the Home Office. Update: Date: 14:39 BST Title: 'Categorically wrong' to say officers were driving people to protest - Essex Police Content: Essex Police has also just shared this statement with us regarding claims made on social media, which were echoed by Nigel Farage. "There are claims on social media that Essex Police officers 'bussed' protesters to the protest outside The Bell Hotel on 17 July," a spokesman says. "This is categorically wrong. "Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest. "Later some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety. "To reiterate, we categorically did not drive any counter-protesters to the site on any occasion." Update: Date: 14:35 BST Title: Farage calls for resignations over police response Content: At the press conference earlier, the chief constable was asked to respond to allegations that officers were favouring pro-asylum seeker protesters. It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for Mr Harrington's resignation over claims made in the national press that police were ferrying those campaigners to the hotel. Mr Harrington said: "People have got the right to turn up and protest if they are peaceful and lawful. "We have not driven people to the protest, people made their own way there. "We did take people away for their safety, for the safety of people there. To defuse the situation we drove people away." Prior to the press conference, Farage accused Essex Police of being "absolutely disgraceful" in how it handled clashes between rival protesters. You can read more on this point of contention here. Update: Date: 14:32 BST Title: What did the chief constable say? Content: Ben-Julian Harrington, the Chief Constable of Essex Police, spoke to the media for about half an hour to discuss protests at The Bell Hotel in Epping. Here are some of the main points he made: Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: Chief thanks reporters as he ends press conference Content: Mr Harrington thanks reporters as he ends the press conference. Stay with us as we bring you reaction. Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: Some protesters are 'stoking up' tensions Content: One reporter asks how many of the protesters are from Essex. Mr Harrington replies "a large proportion", adding: "But there have, as well, been people who have come in from elsewhere to express their views." He continues: "What we have is those protesting the use of this hotel and we've got those who are pro-that." The chief constable says some have been "peaceful and legitimate", while others have been "inciting violence and stoking up" tensions. Update: Date: 14:16 BST Title: No certainty over when protests will end Content: When asked how long the protests could continue for, Mr Harrington was unsure. He says: "I'm expecting, because I am ever the optimist, there will continue to be a number of lawful and peaceful people. "Policing will make sure people, as best we can, can go about their business safely." Update: Date: 14:12 BST Title: Police will act on all crime, says chief constable Content: Mr Harrington is now reiterating that his officers will not hesitate to act on crimes allegedly committed by asylum seekers. "Where that happens, policing has and does intervene," he explains. "Like any other person in the community, we gather evidence. That's what we've done in this case and what we will do." He then referenced an incident last week that led to two hotel workers being "seriously assaulted", adding: "Two people who were there for a day's work." Update: Date: 14:07 BST Title: 'We aren't overwhelmed and outnumbered,' says police chief Content: Our reporter Stuart Woodward has just asked if Essex Police has the resources to staff future protests. He also repeated claims heard in court earlier this week that officers were "overwhelmed". Mr Harrington replies: "I don't think we were overwhelmed and outnumbered. "There are sufficient resources in place to make sure we can deal with any eventuality, supported by the rest of the country as required. "We will be here to enforce the law and allow people to carry out their rights. We will have the support of the government and the rest of policing in order to do that." Update: Date: 14:03 BST Title: Officers did not drive people to the protest - chief constable Content: People have got the right to protest if they are "peaceful and lawful", the chief constable is now saying. He stresses the majority of people turning up at The Bell Hotel have behaved responsibly - and he thanked them for that. When asked if officers drove pro-migrant protesters to the hotel, Mr Harrington says: "We have not driven people to the protest, people made their own way there. "We did take people away for their safety, for the safety of people there. To defuse the situation we drove people away." He goes on to ask people commenting online to "consider the consequences in the real world of your actions". Mr Harrington then says "irresponsible" protesters being violent is drawing officers away from other parts of Essex. Update: Date: 14:00 BST Title: 'We're giving protection to law-abiding people' Content: Mr Harrington is now taking questions from the media, having finished his speech. Asked if his officers are giving a "higher level of protection" to the pro-migrant demonstrators, he says: "I don't accept that. "The only protection our officers are giving is to the law-abiding people." He is then asked if he should resign after clashes between those demonstrators with rival protesters, but Mr Harrington says: "The issue is not about my resignation." Update: Date: 13:58 BST Title: Police warn of misinformation online Content: Addressing misinformation spreading online about the hotel and the policing operation, Mr Harrington urges people to be responsible in what they say. "There are real world consequences," he says. "Going forward we know there are a couple of protests that are advertised. We have a robust, and I stress robust, policing operation in place. "If you come here to commit crime, we will deal with that robustly." Update: Date: 13:56 BST Title: Essex Police say it is being 'absolutely impartial' Content: The senior officer now turns his attention to allegations made against an asylum seeker, who was living at The Bell Hotel, earlier this month. "Where people in these residences commit crime, we will deal with that as well," Mr Harrington says. "We are being absolutely impartial, policing according to the law." Mr Harrington praises the "bravery and commitment" of officers who he says have faced violence. Update: Date: 13:53 BST Title: Ten arrests made so far, police say Content: Mr Harrington thanks the "many peaceful" protesters who have attended to air their views. "What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence," he continues. "Who have attacked people who worked at the hotel, who hurt officers and damaged the hotel." The chief constable says "thugs and vandals" have caused "fear and disruption" to the town, adding 10 arrests have been made so far. Update: Date: 13:51 BST Title: People cannot commit violence, says chief constable Content: We are now under way here in Boreham, hearing from Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington. "What's important to Essex Police are the communities of Epping, the communities of Essex and rights of everyone there to go about their business lawfully and peacefully," he begins. "What it is not about is allowing to people commit crime, violence or disrupt those communities. "It is important we police according to the law as it is, not how people want it to be." Update: Date: 13:45 BST Title: Police giving update - watch live Content: Police are now giving an update - press watch live above to follow along. Update: Date: 13:38 BST Title: Conference delayed due to volume of journalists arriving Content: Stuart WoodwardReporting from the press conference The press conference is a little delayed here at the moment due to extra journalists arriving, I've been told. There are about 20 or so reporters already here, gathering to hear what Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper from Essex Police has to say. After we hear from ACC Hooper, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington will speak to the media. Update: Date: 13:21 BST Title: Journalists gather ahead of press conference Content: Reporters from national and local media outlets have gathered at the press conference in Boreham, near Chelmsford. We're expecting it to get under way any moment now. Just a reminder, you can watch along live by clicking the "watch live" button at the top of this page. Update: Date: 13:03 BST Title: Watch press conference streamed live Content: You will be able to watch the press conference live by clicking the "watch live" button at the top of this page. We're expecting it to get under way in about 15 minutes, so stick with us. Update: Date: 12:54 BST Title: 'Chilled' town has been thrust into the national spotlight Content: Lewis AdamsLive reporter in Essex Epping has found itself at the centre of the national news agenda over the past 10 days. Controversy is not what the town is familiar with, being highly regarded for its ancient Epping Forest woodland and pleasant High Street. People living in Epping, who we spoke to this week, have described watching their "chilled" area turn into a hub of protests and tension. "It's not what you would expect really," said cafe owner Geoff Morris.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
‘A crisis boiling over': The Essex community divided over violent migrant protests
As smoke flares filled the air amid violent protests and heavy-handed clashes with police, the historic market town of Epping found itself at the centre of intense media attention – for all the wrong reasons. Just two days after the latest demonstration, which saw hundreds gather outside the Bell Hotel in Essex, which is believed to house asylum seekers, the mood has substantially quietened. But locals remain divided over the events that sparked the unrest that has plagued the former royal hunting ground for the past 10 days. While many who have protested against the use of migrant hotels have remained peaceful, holding signs reading 'I'm worried about my kids', others had different intentions, with smoke flares thrown towards police vans and eight officers in riot gear being forced to retreat, injured. Describing it as a 'crisis that has reached boiling point', the local Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson has called for the dilapidated Bell Hotel to close. He said: 'This is a crisis that is boiling over and for the safety of our community, the government must get a grip on this situation now, and they must listen and act quickly to close the hotel. I continue to call on the government to immediately close the Bell Hotel, and I have raised this urgently in the House of Commons Chamber.' The violence was sparked when Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker reportedly living there, was charged with three counts of sexual assault after allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charges at Chelmsford magistrates' court last Thursday and has been remanded in custody. But his court appearance failed to dampen local outrage. Around 1,000 people gathered outside the 79-room hotel on Sunday, with six people arrested and bottles thrown towards police. On Tuesday, the key indicator of recent unrest is the large metal barrier now surrounding the hotel, with warning signs against taking pictures or videos. Police officers are still stationed at the site, and a passerby stops to scan the windows for any sign of life inside. Among them is Craig, a 24-year-old local who helped organise the protests last week. Speaking from his car, he insists that the demonstrations were organised to protect local children, and this is not a race issue. 'I think it's unfair to label us as racist or far-right,' he said. 'I've never been to a protest in my life until the last three weeks. It's not so much about race, it's about the people who came. On Sunday, there were all sorts of races here protesting.' A father himself, he added that the protests were for the children's 'future', and called for migrants to enter the UK through a legal route. Describing the protests as 'mostly peaceful', he said: 'I organised the protests through word of mouth mostly. Obviously, once we'd done the first one, that was it – word of mouth spread and it was every Thursday and every Sunday.' It has now been rumoured that those residing at the hotel will now be moved to another part of London, with reports that another demonstration is planned for this weekend, with far-right leader Tommy Robinson potentially in attendance. But not all those who have stopped outside the hotel are anti-immigration. One man on a motorbike stops to call to a young man entering the hotel, to offer him the town's apologies. Another retired man, who wished to remain anonymous, had travelled from south London to visit the hotel after reading reports of the protests in the news. 'My father was Polish, so he came over in the war, so I do have a connection with people coming over to this country for reasons that are good, bad, and indifferent,' he said. 'But I do think we have closed the stable door after the horse has bolted.' He added that he had not been surprised to see the rioting, and added: 'It's not the kind of thing you expect in Epping, because it's a bit middle class and conservative. But whether it's the right place to put people who are waiting to be processed, I don't know.' Walking into the town centre, the incident remains a divisive topic. Speaking outside a bus stop, one couple simply responds: "It's been a fuss over nothing, media making it out to be a bigger deal than it is." Outside a newsagent's, a man describes the refugee hotel as a 'nightmare' and scoffs at the mention of the recent demonstrations. Others said they felt afraid of the possibility of further violence. One elderly couple, who did not wish to be named, said they had decided to rearrange a visit from their grandchildren in order to keep them away from any potential riots. 'It's meant to be to save our children, and yet my grandchildren can't come to the house,' she said. 'I think it's very disturbing. I've lived in Epping a long time, and I've never had hate near me like this. 'I knew as soon as I heard about it that it was going to have a snowball effect. I have never had any trouble from the refugees here.' She described Epping as a town 'still divided by Brexit' but added that while residents were far from united on the issue, she believed many involved in the violence had travelled in from elsewhere. 'Epping is a lovely town,' she said. 'But I think this has damaged its reputation. Today is the first day it feels peaceful since the riots started.' One particular concern for residents has been protesters travelling in from afar, deliberately to participate in violence. Speaking to The Independent, Craig said: 'A lot of people come from out of area, as long as you're coming for the right reasons, then anyone is welcome.' Meanwhile, the charity Hope Not Hate has said it has identified several individuals connected to the far-right in attendance. Its CEO Nick Lowles said: 'The allegations of sexual assault are deeply worrying, and the people of Epping are right to be concerned about this case. A man has been arrested and it's vital that the legal process is allowed to run its course. 'The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred. The far right demonise and vilify all migrants, including the other innocent residents at the hotel, creating a climate of hatred and hatred locally. Sadly, violence is the result. 'The far-right is seeking to sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse.' Local Conservative MP, Neil Hudson, said the scenes on Thursday and Sunday night were 'deeply troubling and unsettling', and he condemned the violence as 'completely unacceptable'. 'Police put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. People quite rightly have the right to peaceful protest, but these violent scenes are not us, they are not Epping, and they are not what we stand for. It is deeply disturbing that people from outside Epping are coming to these protests not to support the real concerns of our local community, but to disrupt and cause violence.' He continued: 'As I said previously, I am deeply disturbed by the alleged sexual assaults in Epping the week before last, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and their peers.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Hundreds take part in protests near asylum hotel in Epping
Hundreds of people have taken part in protests near a hotel used to house asylum seekers in a from far right and pro-refugee groups gathered in Epping, Essex, on Thursday. BBC Essex political reporter Simon Dedman, who was at the scene, estimated there were about 40 pro-refugee protesters and about 400 members of far-right Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of affray at the protest. "Our officers have been at a planned protest in Epping throughout the afternoon today, and are now aware of some protestors using fireworks and eggs in the crowds," said a police spokesperson."We have closed a section of High Road, Epping, for the safety of the public and those protesting."The spokesperson added: "One man has already been arrested at today's protest on suspicion of affray."Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, had called for an end to a hotel in the area being used to house asylum was joined by two local Conservative MPs - Epping Forest's Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart, who represents Brentwood and Ongar. They claimed the Home Office did not understand the "seriousness of this situation".It followed the arrest of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town. Weyman Bennett, a member of Stand Up To Racism who attended the rally, said: "Britain is a peaceful country in which people should be allowed to go about their business without being attacked."Millie Smith, who lives in Epping and attended the rally, said: "There has been a lot of misinterpretation of who is here and why they are here."Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: "Disruption and offending is never an appropriate response, no matter the strength of feeling in this case, and on this issue."The Home Office said it has "begun to restore order [to the asylum system], with a rapid increase in asylum decision-making and the removal of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK". Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Man tried to kiss girl in Epping
A man tried to kiss a schoolgirl as she ate pizza near a busy High Street, a court Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, is accused of propositioning the girl while she was eating in the town centre of Epping in allegedly happened on 7 July - eight days after the 41-year-old arrived in the UK via a Magistrates' Court was told on Thursday that Mr Kebatu, of High Road in Epping, had denied three sexual offences, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. The allegations led to two MPs - Neil Hudson, Conservative MP for Epping Forest and Alex Burghart, Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar - as well as the leader of Epping Forest District Council to call for a hotel housing asylum seekers in the town to be Kebatu appeared in the dock for a case management hearing and was told he would face a two-day trial from 26 alleged Mr Kebatu asked the schoolgirl for some pizza as she ate near Epping High Street. It was alleged on 8 July Mr Kebatu had also tried to kiss an adult near a fish and chip shop in the town centre, also telling her she was "pretty" while putting his hand on her then encountered the girl again on 8 July and tried to kiss her, the court was defendant shook his head at times from the dock and clutched a bible as the prosecution case was through an interpreter, he said: "I never done [this] and I am an honest and decent person."Tia Ojo, defending, said Mr Kebatu denied all elements of what the prosecution his first court appearance, it was said that Mr Kebatu arrived in the UK on 29 June 2025 and that he was "a refugee or asylum seeker".He was remanded in custody until the trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Essex police warn against violence as far right exploit asylum hotel tensions
Police have warned that 'criminal violence will not be tolerated' amid tensions in an Essex town where the far right have been trying to exploit opposition to the housing of asylum seekers in a hotel. Assaults on two security staff by a group of men at a protest near the hotel in Epping on Sunday were being treated by investigators as racially aggravated, Essex police said. Both men received hospital treatment for serious injuries, according to the force, which said it also arrested a man on Tuesday after damage was caused to The Bell hotel by an individual who was seen shouting racial abuse outside it. Tensions were high ahead of the latest appearance in court on Thursday of an asylum seeker who has been charged with three counts of sexual assault. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denies the offences, and is due to appear at Chelmsford magistrates court. There are concerns of further protests outside the hotel on Thursday, while an anti-racism demonstration is scheduled to take place near the town's rail station. Far-right activists, who have a significant local presence, were central to the protest on Sunday and have been vocal on community Facebook groups. Two local Conservative MPs called on Labour to immediately close the hotel and another in Epping, which have been used to house asylum seekers. The situation had become 'increasingly alarming and distressing in recent days,' said Neil Hudson and Alex Burghart. The flare-up comes ahead of the first anniversary of last summer's riots, which began after the murders of three young girls in Southport and resulted in attempts to burn down hotels housing asylum seekers. The chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, said there was a need to speed up plans to end the use of asylum hotels, which he said had become a 'flashpoint for tension in communities, cost billions to the taxpayer, and leave people trapped in limbo'. Security fencing went up around the hotel on Wednesday. A man who said he was an asylum seeker from Libya told the Guardian that he and others still felt safe. 'We are being treated well and we just want our cases to be heard,' he added. 'There is no trouble.' A local resident said that while they and others in the community had concerns, it was also the case that outside elements and local activists had been trying to inflame the situation. 'There is a very vocal hardcore local group,' they added. 'Most people would rather it was not there, that it was back as a hotel, but it is what it is and maybe there's a case for new arrivals to be kept somewhere more secure and be checked.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Supt Tim Tubbs, of Essex police, said: 'We understand people's right to make their voices heard on issues which matter to them. People who do this peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us – and the wider public – no concern. However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal violence of any sort.' A Home Office spokesperson said the government had already taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum. 'The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy, but this cannot cross the line into unlawful or violent behaviour. We continue to work closely with Essex police,' she added.
