A protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers descended into violence as anti-immigration protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators.
Scores of people gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex on Sunday after an asylum seeker was accused of committing three sexual assaults — just eight days after he arrived in the UK by boat.
Police were forced to break up a fight between two men as part of a demonstration against the use of the three-star establishment to house migrants. There were no arrests or offences reported to officers.
It comes after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who came to Britain on June 29, was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment without violence.
The defendant, who is originally from Ethiopia and lives at the hotel on High Road, was remanded in custody after a hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He denies any wrongdoing.
On Saturday, the district’s Conservative leader wrote to the Home Office calling for The Bell Hotel’s closure “without delay”.
A crowd of demonstrators opposing the use of the accommodation on Sunday were met with a counter-protest organised by Waltham Forest Stand up to Racism.
Some of the counter-protesters were holding “Refugees Welcome: Stop The Far-Right” signs. Essex Police will continue to have a presence in the area for the coming days.
Superintendent Tim Tubbs said: “We respect everyone’s right to protest, and we police without fear of favour – these are important fundamentals of our work when it comes to public order.
“We’ll be working with all our partner agencies in the coming days to hear their thoughts and establish how we can provide the most effective police response for events like this in the future.
This site is entirely inappropriate
“As with all our policing of public events such as protests, we will review any bodyworn video to ensure any offences are detected.”
Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, said of The Bell Hotel: “From the outset, we warned the Home Office that this site is entirely inappropriate.
“Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable.
“It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel.
“The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation.
“Our warnings have been ignored for too long. “
A petition organised by Mr Whitbread calling for the closure of The Bell Hotel — as well as the Phoenix Hotel in Bobbingworth, which also accommodates asylum seekers — has received more than 4,500 signatures.
The petition states: “We are also deeply concerned about rising community tensions. Epping Forest has a history of extreme far-right activity, including the presence of groups such as the Homeland Party and previously elected British National Party councillors.
“The Government’s inaction risks fuelling division and undermining community cohesion. Our community feels ignored and let down. Epping Forest has been forced to carry an unfair burden in the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.”
The Standard has approached The Bell Hotel for comment.
