Three men were arrested during a protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday, with police officers sustaining injuries during the demonstration. The hotel houses asylum seekers, and the protest came after the Government won a court challenge allowing asylum seekers to continue being housed at the Essex venue.
Essex Police arrested one man on suspicion of violent disorder and a second on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A third man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after allegedly driving a car on the wrong side of the road towards a police cordon.
Police response and ongoing measures
All three men remain in custody following the incidents. A dispersal order has been put in place until 6am on Saturday after a group that attended a protest in Cheshunt arrived in Epping and remained in the area.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: "Protest is a democratic right, and we'll always do all we can to facilitate that, for every group seeking to make their voice heard. The overwhelming majority of people in Epping tonight clearly wanted their voices to be heard and they did that safely and without the need for a police response."
He added: "However, the right to protest does not include a right to commit crime and tonight a small number of people were arrested. Two officers sustained injuries which are thankfully not serious."
Court ruling upholds hotel use
The Bell Hotel became the focal point of several protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl last month. The man has denied the charges.
Somani Hotels, which owns the Epping building, and the Home Office won their challenge against a High Court ruling on Friday that would have stopped 138 asylum seekers from being housed there. On Friday evening, a small number of protesters carrying England and Union flags gathered outside whilst police officers guarded the entrance.
One protester told PA Media the Court of Appeal ruling could result in civil unrest. Carmen, wearing a pink top reading "Pink Ladies Say, The Only Way is Epping, Send Them Home", said: "We come every week - march, protest - and today's ruling is just devastating, absolutely devastating. It will probably cause civil unrest."
Related protests in nearby areas
In nearby Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, dozens of protesters gathered behind barriers near the Delta Marriott hotel, which also houses asylum seekers. Police stood in front of the barriers with some roads closed, and counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism were also present.
Councillor Corina Gander, leader of Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire, said she "remains concerned" about the impact the use of the Delta Marriott hotel is having on local services. The council has taken legal advice and intends enforcement action to seek the hotel's closure for housing asylum seekers.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
