Police condemn 'thugs and vandals' at Epping asylum seeker hotel protests

BBC News

5 days ago

Update:
Date: 14:48 BST
Title: 'This is a powder keg situation,' says council leader
Content: Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping, and Alex Burghart, the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, have called for The Bell Hotel to be closed due to the disorder.
Chris Whitbread, the Tory leader of Epping Forest District Council, has described it as a "powder keg" situation.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight's Victoria Derbyshire, external, he said: "Fair-minded people within the local community, initially protesting peacefully, want the hotel closed.
"I have to say, as the leader of the council, that's always been my position and the council's position. This is just not a suitable location. The sooner it's dealt with, the better."
He said he sympathised with the "vulnerable" asylum seekers at the hotel but stressed locations that had "less impact on established communities" needed to be found by the Home Office.
Update:
Date: 14:39 BST
Title: 'Categorically wrong' to say officers were driving people to protest - Essex Police
Content: Essex Police has also just shared this statement with us regarding claims made on social media, which were echoed by Nigel Farage.
"There are claims on social media that Essex Police officers 'bussed' protesters to the protest outside The Bell Hotel on 17 July," a spokesman says.
"This is categorically wrong.
"Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest.
"Later some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety.
"To reiterate, we categorically did not drive any counter-protesters to the site on any occasion."
Update:
Date: 14:35 BST
Title: Farage calls for resignations over police response
Content: At the press conference earlier, the chief constable was asked to respond to allegations that officers were favouring pro-asylum seeker protesters.
It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for Mr Harrington's resignation over claims made in the national press that police were ferrying those campaigners to the hotel.
Mr Harrington said: "People have got the right to turn up and protest if they are
peaceful and lawful.
"We have not driven people to the protest, people made
their own way there.
"We did take people away for their safety, for the safety
of people there. To defuse the situation we drove people away."
Prior to the press conference, Farage accused Essex Police of being "absolutely disgraceful" in how it handled clashes between rival protesters.
You can read more on this point of contention here.
Update:
Date: 14:32 BST
Title: What did the chief constable say?
Content: Ben-Julian Harrington, the Chief Constable of Essex Police, spoke to the media for about half an hour to discuss protests at The Bell Hotel in Epping.
Here are some of the main points he made:
Update:
Date: 14:19 BST
Title: Chief thanks reporters as he ends press conference
Content: Mr Harrington thanks reporters as he ends the press conference.
Stay with us as we bring you reaction.
Update:
Date: 14:19 BST
Title: Some protesters are 'stoking up' tensions
Content: One reporter asks how many of the protesters are from Essex.
Mr Harrington replies "a large proportion", adding: "But there have, as well, been people who have come in from elsewhere to express their views."
He continues: "What we have is those protesting the use of this hotel and
we've got those who are pro-that."
The chief constable says some have been "peaceful and legitimate", while others have been "inciting violence and stoking up" tensions.
Update:
Date: 14:16 BST
Title: No certainty over when protests will end
Content: When asked how long the protests could continue for, Mr Harrington was unsure.
He says: "I'm expecting, because I am ever the optimist, there will continue to be a number of lawful and peaceful people.
"Policing will make sure people, as best we can, can go about their business safely."
Update:
Date: 14:12 BST
Title: Police will act on all crime, says chief constable
Content: Mr Harrington is now reiterating that his officers will not hesitate to act on crimes allegedly committed by asylum seekers.
"Where that happens, policing has and does intervene," he explains.
"Like
any other person in the community, we gather evidence. That's what we've done in
this case and what we will do."
He then referenced an incident last week that led to two hotel workers being "seriously assaulted", adding: "Two people who were there for a day's work."
Update:
Date: 14:07 BST
Title: 'We aren't overwhelmed and outnumbered,' says police chief
Content: Our reporter Stuart Woodward has just asked if Essex Police has the resources to staff future protests.
He also repeated claims heard in court earlier this week that officers were "overwhelmed".
Mr Harrington replies: "I don't think we were overwhelmed and outnumbered.
"There are
sufficient resources in place to make sure we can deal with any eventuality,
supported by the rest of the country as required.
"We will be here to enforce the law and allow people to carry out
their rights. We will have the support of the government and the rest of policing in
order to do that."
Update:
Date: 14:03 BST
Title: Officers did not drive people to the protest - chief constable
Content: People have got the right to protest if they are "peaceful and lawful", the chief constable is now saying.
He stresses the majority of people turning up at The Bell Hotel have behaved responsibly - and he thanked them for that.
When asked if officers drove pro-migrant protesters to the hotel, Mr Harrington says: "We have not driven people to the protest, people made their own way there.
"We did take people away for their safety, for the safety of people there. To defuse the situation we drove people away."
He goes on to ask people commenting online to "consider the consequences in the real world of your actions".
Mr Harrington then says "irresponsible" protesters being violent is drawing officers away from other parts of Essex.
Update:
Date: 14:00 BST
Title: 'We're giving protection to law-abiding people'
Content: Mr Harrington is now taking questions from the media, having finished his speech.
Asked if his officers are giving a "higher level of protection" to the pro-migrant demonstrators, he says: "I don't accept that.
"The only protection our officers are giving is to the law-abiding people."
He is then asked if he should resign after clashes between those demonstrators with rival protesters, but Mr Harrington says: "The issue is not about my resignation."
Update:
Date: 13:58 BST
Title: Police warn of misinformation online
Content: Addressing misinformation spreading online about the hotel and the policing operation, Mr Harrington urges people to be responsible in what they say.
"There are real world consequences," he says.
"Going forward we know there are a couple of protests that are advertised. We have a robust, and I stress robust, policing operation in place.
"If you come here to commit crime, we will deal with that robustly."
Update:
Date: 13:56 BST
Title: Essex Police say it is being 'absolutely impartial'
Content: The senior officer now turns his attention to allegations made against an asylum seeker, who was living at The Bell Hotel, earlier this month.
"Where people in these residences commit crime, we will deal with that as well," Mr Harrington says.
"We are being absolutely impartial, policing according to the law."
Mr Harrington praises the "bravery and commitment" of officers who he says have faced violence.
Update:
Date: 13:53 BST
Title: Ten arrests made so far, police say
Content: Mr Harrington thanks the "many peaceful" protesters who have attended to air their views.
"What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence," he continues.
"Who have attacked people who worked at the hotel, who hurt officers and damaged the hotel."
The chief constable says "thugs and vandals" have caused "fear and disruption" to the town, adding 10 arrests have been made so far.
Update:
Date: 13:51 BST
Title: People cannot commit violence, says chief constable
Content: We are now under way here in Boreham, hearing from Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington.
"What's important to Essex Police are the communities of Epping, the communities of Essex and rights of everyone there to go about their business lawfully and peacefully," he begins.
"What it is not about is allowing to people commit crime, violence or disrupt those communities.
"It is important we police according to the law as it is, not how people want it to be."
Update:
Date: 13:45 BST
Title: Police giving update - watch live
Content: Police are now giving an update - press watch live above to follow along.
Update:
Date: 13:38 BST
Title: Conference delayed due to volume of journalists arriving
Content: Stuart WoodwardReporting from the press conference
The press conference is a little delayed here at the moment due to extra journalists arriving, I've been told.
There are about 20 or so reporters already here, gathering to hear what Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper from Essex Police has to say.
After we hear from ACC Hooper, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington will speak to the media.
Update:
Date: 13:21 BST
Title: Journalists gather ahead of press conference
Content: Reporters from national and local media outlets have gathered at the press conference in Boreham, near Chelmsford.
We're expecting it to get under way any moment now.
Just a reminder, you can watch along live by clicking the "watch live" button at the top of this page.
Update:
Date: 13:03 BST
Title: Watch press conference streamed live
Content: You will be able to watch the press conference live by clicking the "watch live" button at the top of this page.
We're expecting it to get under way in about 15 minutes, so stick with us.
Update:
Date: 12:54 BST
Title: 'Chilled' town has been thrust into the national spotlight
Content: Lewis AdamsLive reporter in Essex
Epping has found itself at the centre of the national news agenda over the past 10 days.
Controversy is not what the town is familiar with, being highly regarded for its ancient Epping Forest woodland and pleasant High Street.
People living in Epping, who we spoke to this week, have described watching their "chilled" area turn into a hub of protests and tension.
"It's not what you would expect really," said cafe owner Geoff Morris.