Protesters descended on Epping’s council offices in anger over a hotel housing asylum seekers in the area on Sunday. Approximately 200 people congregated outside the Epping Forest District Council building, where a woman ascended the steps and unfurled a Union flag.
She was detained by officers after refusing to vacate the premises. A dispersal order has been issued by the police to force the crowd to leave the area, which remains in place until 6am.
Earlier on Sunday evening, the protesters were stationed behind metal barriers across the road from the Bell Hotel, waving at passing vehicles that honked their horns. Police officers observed the scene, with additional units waiting in vans on nearby roads.
The Bell Hotel has been the epicentre of several protests and counter-protests in recent weeks following charges of sexual assault against a teenage girl last month by an asylum seeker housed there. He has denied the charges.
The woman detained while flying a flag from the council offices was arrested for breaching Section 14 order from police to prevent serious disorder. The force strongly rejected suggestions she was arrested for flying a Union flag.
Essex Police imposed wide ranging stipulations on the protest, which was ordered to conclude and disperse by 8pm. The force was also granted a Section 60AA order, giving officers the authority to demand the removal of face coverings.
Two men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the protest, which has built during recent weeks as campaigners sought to end the hotel’s role in housing asylum seekers through a legal battle. At first, this campaign apppeared to succeed, but last week was struck down following a challenge from the hotel’s owners.
Somani Hotels, the owner of the building, and the Home Office successfully challenged the High Court ruling that would have prevented 138 asylum seekers from being accommodated there.
But with large crowds congregating outside the hotel-turned-hostel over the weekend, the issue has not been quashed among the concerned protesters by the High Court’s decision.
All three of those arrested remained in police cells on Sunday night, including a man who has been charged with inciting racial hatred after burning a symbol outside the hotel on Friday.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “We know the strength of feeling in Epping regarding a very important issue.
“And to reiterate what we’ve repeatedly said, we always remain impartial – this is the role of policing.
“Turning next to the arrest of a woman shortly after 7.15pm tonight. She was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order as we sought to de-escalate a highly emotional situation.
“To be very clear, despite suggestions we’ve seen on social media, she was not arrested for flying a Union flag on the Civic Centre.”