UK Police chief: Move migrants from 'unsuitable' Epping hotel, close asylum centres

[CharlieH]

 

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex, Roger Hirst, has formally urged the Home Secretary to shut down The Bell Hotel in Epping, citing its unsuitability as a facility for housing asylum seekers and the growing unrest it has sparked.

 

In a public statement, Mr Hirst revealed he had written to Yvette Cooper, expressing concern over the use of hotels in the Epping Forest District for newly arrived asylum seekers. He emphasized that The Bell Hotel in particular has become a flashpoint, with its presence triggering significant community tension and draining police resources.

 

The controversy intensified after a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker staying at the hotel, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was charged with multiple sexual offences shortly after arriving in the UK. He has denied all allegations. Following his arrest, a series of protests erupted on July 13, 17, and 20, with demonstrators clashing with police and disrupting local life.

Hirst condemned the violence seen at some of the protests but maintained support for lawful demonstrations. “Peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right,” he said, “but violence and criminal damage are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

 

To manage escalating tensions, Essex Police implemented stricter security measures, including metal barriers around the hotel, a dispersal order covering central Epping, and a temporary ban on face coverings under public order legislation. One protester was arrested under the face-covering ban.

 

On July 24, Epping Forest District Council unanimously passed a motion urging the government to close both The Bell Hotel and The Phoenix Hotel, another site used for asylum housing. The debate was held amid heightened security and a planned march by demonstrators, which was disrupted by bad weather and a strong police presence.

In addition to Epping, the four-star Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf also became the scene of recent anti-migrant protests. The Metropolitan Police deployed officers to manage potential unrest there following public outcry.

Concerns over continued protests have grown, with police unions warning of wider unrest and stretched resources. Tiff Lynch, head of the Police Federation for England and Wales, said the Epping protests highlight deeper issues in public order policing, warning that forces are ill-prepared for sustained disorder.

 

Ms Lynch stressed that such operations often pull officers away from community policing, and she called for better planning and resourcing to handle the growing number of demonstrations.

Sixteen people were arrested during last week’s protest at The Bell Hotel. Eight officers were injured and several police vehicles damaged. Police say they are closely monitoring online activity to anticipate and manage future protests.

The issue has drawn national political attention. Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith described the mood across the UK as “the unhappiest I have seen in a long, long time,” attributing much of the discontent to immigration and asylum policies.

 

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged the public’s frustration, saying the asylum system has put pressure on housing and that many of the concerns are valid. He noted that the number of hotels being used to accommodate asylum seekers has dropped from 400 to around 200.

“We need to fix the core issue,” Reynolds said, “which is ensuring that people who should not be in the UK are returned, rather than relocating them to new forms of temporary accommodation.”

 

 

Meanwhile, controversy continues over police handling of protests. Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor repeated claims made by Nigel Farage that Essex Police “bussed in” counter-protesters to a previous demonstration—an accusation the force firmly denied. A police spokesperson clarified that officers merely escorted vulnerable individuals away from the protest area for safety reasons and did not transport any counter-protesters to the event.

 

Separately, Hampshire Constabulary was also accused of escorting left-wing activists to a migrant hotel protest in Aldershot earlier in the year. Police said their role was to ensure public safety and lawful demonstration, not to facilitate one side.

With further demonstrations likely, and emotions running high, officials continue to weigh the balance between community safety, lawful protest, and the wider challenges of asylum accommodation in the UK.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Mail 2025-07-25