Five individuals apprehended following an attempted incursion at a London hotel by masked individuals during an anti-asylum demonstration.
In Essex, three men were arrested and two charged following a protest on Friday evening. The demonstration took place in Epping, where a dispersal order was issued, covering the main high street and the area surrounding the Bell Hotel. The hotel is currently housing 138 asylum seekers.
Hundreds of counter-protesters were also present, leading to tensions that required police intervention. The protesters attempted to enter the Crowne Plaza through the rear entrance and damaged security fences. Essex Police have confirmed that two officers suffered minor injuries, and five arrests were made.
The Section 60AA order in Epping gives officers the power to order the removal of face coverings, while a Section 35 dispersal order has been put in place, allowing officers to direct people to leave the area and not return if they suspect they may cause disorder. The Section 35 order will run for 24 hours.
Commander Adam Slonecki stated that around 500 protesters were in the area, but most have dispersed. Police separated both groups behind barriers to prevent further confrontations.
Elsewhere in the UK, demonstrations against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers continued over the weekend. In London, the Government won its bid to block the closure of a hotel that found itself at the centre of protests. Meanwhile, two anti-asylum protest groups marched to the Crowne Plaza near Heathrow Airport on Saturday afternoon.
In Falkirk, Scotland, a group of angry activists gathered at a hotel housing asylum seekers. Both groups engaged in personal abuse and hurling threats, requiring police intervention. It is unclear if any of the masked men were arrested.
These incidents highlight the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding the accommodation of asylum seekers in the UK. As the issue continues to draw attention, it is expected that more protests will take place in the future.
