The Latest Breaking News from Essex Police

Police have issued pictures of two men they want to speak to.

COMMENT: Protesters outside a hotel housing asylum seekers have accused the local force of ‘bussing in’ anti-racism campaigners, a fallacy repeated by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and which has taken hold on social media. But it’s not the police stirring up trouble, says Sean O’Grady

Two members of the Homeland Party have been identified as administrators of the Facebook group organising the protests

The three sole administrators of the Facebook group, Epping Says No are believed to be members of the far-right political party Homeland

There have been a series of demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.

Essex Police have already spent £100,000 policing unrest in Epping as they’re forced to draft in support from neighbouring forces after the protests turned ugly

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, of Essex Police, denied an accusation made by the Clacton MP.

The force said the protests began peacefully but ‘escalated to the point of disorder and criminal damage’

In a social media video, Farage said Essex Police chief constable should resign as a result of the claims

A series of demonstrations has taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping over the last week.

There have been six arrests, while eight police officers were injured