Epping protest policing bill could hit £1.7m by October

Epping protest policing bill could hit £1.7m by October

The cost of policing protests in Epping could rise to £1.7 million by October, Essex Police have confirmed. Demonstrations erupted after asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was charged with sexual offences in July, sparking months of unrest outside The Bell Hotel where he had been housed.

Since then, more than 30 arrests have been made and additional officers — some drafted in from as far as Wales — have been deployed to control disorder. Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst told a crime panel meeting that the force has been stretched by the “substantial level” of resources needed to maintain order.

Despite the soaring costs, Essex Police will not receive government assistance unless expenses exceed £4 million, meaning the current bill must be absorbed locally. “It’s a classic public service conundrum,” Hirst said. “You have the requirement right now, you have to do it. That’s the job.”

While most protests have remained peaceful, clashes on 17 July left eight officers injured after fireworks and eggs were thrown. Demonstrations have continued outside The Bell Hotel, with the latest occurring this week.

Epping Forest District Council has been fighting a legal battle to prevent the hotel from housing asylum seekers. A temporary injunction was granted in August but later overturned, and the full case is scheduled for a High Court hearing on 15 October.

Kebatu, who came to the UK from Ethiopia, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. He was sentenced to one year in prison at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, further intensifying local tensions.

Key Takeaways

• Policing Epping protests is expected to cost £1.7m by October, with no government funding unless costs exceed £4m.
• Demonstrations began after asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was charged with sexual offences; he has since been jailed.
• Epping Forest District Council is pursuing a High Court challenge to block asylum seekers from being housed at The Bell Hotel.

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