Two charged following Epping protest as more demonstrations planned after asylum hotel ruling

Although the Home Office won its court case, the political fallout for the government could be dire, ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan reports

Two men have been charged following a protest on Friday night outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping, Essex Police said.

Ross Ellis, 49, of Orchard Croft, Harlow, has been charged with failing to provide a specimen and was appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Jimmy Hillard, 52, of Chequers Road, Loughton, has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A third man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder remains in custody.

The Government won a Court of Appeal challenge on Friday against an an injunction which would have seen asylum seekers moved out of the Bell Hotel, Epping, seen as a possible precedent for legal challenges at other councils.

Ministers are bracing for further legal battles and ongoing protests over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers around the country.

Despite the Court of Appeal's decision, at least 13 other councils are considering pressing ahead with legal action over the use of asylum hotels in their areas, according to The Times.

Multiple demonstrations have been held over the past few weeks. Credit: PA

Epping's Bell Hotel became the focal point of several protests 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.

On Friday evening, a small number of protesters carrying England and Union flags gathered outside, and police officers guarded the entrance.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said that, although "protest is a democratic right", that right "does not include a right to commit crime".

He added: “The strength of feeling in Epping throughout the summer is not lost on me. My continued plea to those people who want their voices to be heard is to please do that safely and peacefully.”

Speaking on Saturday morning, he said there would be a continued police presence in the area throughout Saturday.

Protestors outside the Bell Hotel in Epping last week. Credit: PA

Multiple protests and counter-protests are planned across the UK on Saturday, including in Leeds, Gloucester, Stockport, Stevenage and Exeter.

A group calling themselves the Great British National Protest said they would hold demonstrations on Saturday and for every “foreseeable” Saturday, including outside the Home Office in Westminster.

Epping Forest District Council said they were “ruling nothing out”, including taking their bid for a temporary injunction to the Supreme Court.

The council could still be granted an injunction following a full hearing of the legal claim, which is due to be heard in October.

Multiple other councils are reported to be considering pressing ahead with legal action over the use of asylum hotels in their areas.

Somani Hotels, which owns the Epping building, and the Home Office won their challenge against the High Court ruling on Friday, which would have stopped 138 asylum seekers from being housed there.

Lord Justice Bean, one of the justices who made the ruling on Friday, criticised Mr Justice Eyre's previous decision to ban the Bell Hotel from being used to house asylum seekers.

He warned “this runs the risk of acting as an impetus or incentive for further protests.”

“At its worst, if even unlawful protests are to be treated as relevant, there is a risk of encouraging further lawlessness.

“The judge does not appear to have considered this risk,” he told the court.

Lord Justice Bean giving the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The judges also said that the decision to block the Home Office's bid to intervene in the case was “erroneous”.

Reading a summary of their decision, Lord Justice Bean said the Home Office had a “constitutional role relating to public safety” and was affected by the issues.

He continued: “The judge’s approach ignores the obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system.”

He added that such an injunction “may incentivise” other councils to take similar steps as Epping Forest District Council.

One protester who appeared outside the Bell Hotel on Friday told the PA News Agency the Court of Appeal ruling could result in civil unrest.

Carmen, who wore a pink top that said “Pink Ladies Say, The Only Way is Epping, Send Them Home” on it, said: “We come every week – march, protest – and today’s ruling is just devastating, absolutely devastating. It will probably cause civil unrest.”

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In nearby Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, a video posted on YouTube showed dozens of protesters behind barriers near the Delta Marriott hotel, which has also been used to house asylum seekers.

Police stood in front of the barriers and some roads were closed with counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism also in attendance.

At one point, protesters appeared to clash with officers.

Councillor Corina Gander, the leader of Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire, said in a statement on Thursday that she “remains concerned” about the impact the use of the Delta Marriott hotel is having on local services.

The council said it has taken legal advice about use of the hotel and said it intends to take enforcement action.

“This action will help us to meet our objective of seeking the closure of the Delta Marriott hotel for housing asylum seekers,” Councillor Gander said.

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