Two arrests as Bell Hotel protesters clash with police

At least two people have been arrested during a protest against the housing of asylum seekers at a hotel in Essex.

An organised march was held in Epping, where about 140 migrants are staying at The Bell Hotel.

Essex Police had a dispersal order in place and set restrictions on the protest, saying it must be finished by 20:00 and banners must not contain “offensive or inflammatory language”.

Essex Police has yet to confirm the number of arrests or what the people were arrested on suspicion of.

Around 200 people gathered outside the Epping Forest District Council building where a woman climbed the steps and unfurled a Union flag before being detained by officers after refusing to leave.

Another person was detained in the crowd.

The Bell Hotel became the focal point of several demonstrations and counter-protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl last month. He has denied the charges. The case is currently going through the courts.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction that would have blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel.

Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “We’ve consistently said that we will always seek to facilitate lawful protest but that does not include a right to commit crime, and we’ll take a firm approach to anyone intent on doing that.

“And to reiterate to the public, the strength of feeling in Epping is not lost on me – or anyone in Essex Police – and I would urge anyone who wants to make their voices heard to please do that peacefully and within the parameters outlined.”