Council urges the government to close Epping asylum hotel

A council has voted unanimously to urge the government to close a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of public demonstrations.

The number of people arrested after unrest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping has risen to 16 – in the wake of protests on 13, 17 and 20 July.

At a packed and often heated public meeting on Thursday, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, said: “I am concerned that our residents’ peaceful protests are being infiltrated on the extremes of politics.”

A large group of people gathered outside the council offices during the meeting – and a “peaceful” protest was taking place at the Bell Hotel, police said.

The force also warned that people who wore face coverings would be asked to remove them and those who refused would be arrested.

In a statement it said: “Our priority is keeping Epping safe. We’re here to support peaceful protest – but we will not tolerate criminal behaviour.”

Whitbread told the meeting: “I’m worried that Epping will become a focus and a battleground for the agendas of those extremist groups and they will continue to stoke tensions as part of their wider campaigns.”

Action 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 activity.

Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody.

Whitbread added: “The majority of Epping residents are peaceful while concerned that lasting harm is being done to our community.

“Since it was first occupied during the pandemic this council has consistently maintained this hotel is the wrong location.

“It is occupied often by vulnerable people and there are not the facilities here to support them.”

During the meeting, councillor Holly Whitbread spoke critically of councillors who had encouraged or taken part in protests.

While supporting the motion she said: “I would never knowingly stand next to neo-Nazis, which is what a member in this chamber did on Sunday.

“My grandad fought in a war against these people. I think quite frankly anyone who stands side by side with them should hang their head in shame.”

Fellow Conservative councillor Shane Yerrell urged the council not to make assumptions about protesters.

“It is not fair for anyone turning up at the protest to be branded a racist or a Nazi,” he said.

He closed his submission by reading a statement from the father of the alleged victim of sexual assault, which received a standing ovation from the chamber and the public gallery.

While supporting the motion, Jaymey McIvor, for Reform UK, said it was a “great shame” more councillors had not visited the protests.

He said: “The people of Epping are worried, they’re scared. And what they want in that scenario is to be listened to.”

McIvor went on to repeat claims, refuted by Essex Police, that “far left thuggery were escorted to the Bell Hotel” – to which several other members shouted responses including “fake news” and “misinformation”.

The rest of McIvor’s statement condemned violence and called for the closure of the hotel, as he returned to his seat he was greeted with a standing ovation from people in the public gallery.

Liberal Democrat councillor Janet Whitehouse, who is Epping Town mayor, provided some support and sympathy with asylum seekers, saying: “We don’t know the situation of the people placed there.

“It’s very sad that the picture of Epping being seen nationally and internationally is one of violence.”

Of the 16 arrested, six people have been charged with offences including violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to remove a face covering.

A dispersal order was imposed until 08:00 BST on Friday in response to further planned protests.

It gave officers extra powers to direct people to leave the area or face arrest.

Reaction from Epping residents has been divided, with some feeling the protests are justified while others told the BBC they felt uncomfortable.

A 53-year-old man called Jason, who declined to share his surname, said the protests had been “a long time coming”.

He continued: “I don’t think the violence is justified, I don’t think that the police help the situation by going in mob handed but they’ve got to do their job.

“People are angry, so they’re going to react… I think the people here are justified in being angry.”

Supermarket worker Tilly Nelson argued that social media has fuelled some of the protesting, helped spread misinformation and turned the protests into an event.

She said: “It’s like a social gathering to come together to put their mask on and have a go at the police.”

The 20-year-old said she has had only positive interactions with some of the men who live at the hotel, who she describes as “the politest people”.

She shared concerns the “narrative has completely changed”.