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| Escorting Epping protesters was a safety decision - Essex Police | Escorting Epping protesters was a safety decision - Essex Police |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police previously said officers had been attacked during protests | |
| Escorting pro-refugee protesters to demonstrations outside an asylum hotel was a "public safety decision", a police force said. | Escorting pro-refugee protesters to demonstrations outside an asylum hotel was a "public safety decision", a police force said. |
| Officers were filmed escorting about 50 people to and from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on 17 July. | Officers were filmed escorting about 50 people to and from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on 17 July. |
| The group went on to clash with rival protesters calling for the hotel to stop housing asylum seekers, leading to eight constables being injured. | The group went on to clash with rival protesters calling for the hotel to stop housing asylum seekers, leading to eight constables being injured. |
| Essex Police denied "collaborating" with those supporting the hotel occupants and said it was standard practice to facilitate a lawful protest. | Essex Police denied "collaborating" with those supporting the hotel occupants and said it was standard practice to facilitate a lawful protest. |
| The force is due to hold a press conference later, explaining its policing of the demonstrations. | |
| More than 1,000 people have attended protests across 13, 17 and 20 July. | More than 1,000 people have attended protests across 13, 17 and 20 July. |
| Police were accused of "giving protesters lifts" to the demonstration | Police were accused of "giving protesters lifts" to the demonstration |
| A police spokesman said the officers would not stop the counter-protesters attending the hotel, so chose to escort them there in an effort to prevent clashes. | A police spokesman said the officers would not stop the counter-protesters attending the hotel, so chose to escort them there in an effort to prevent clashes. |
| They were later accused of "giving protesters lifts" when taking them to a line of waiting vans after disorder broke out, which involved objects being thrown. | They were later accused of "giving protesters lifts" when taking them to a line of waiting vans after disorder broke out, which involved objects being thrown. |
| But the spokesman insisted officers had to act "on the ground at that moment" to ensure they could concentrate on policing the situation. | But the spokesman insisted officers had to act "on the ground at that moment" to ensure they could concentrate on policing the situation. |
| The counter-protesters were taken to a side street and police blocked Epping High Street with their vehicles. | The counter-protesters were taken to a side street and police blocked Epping High Street with their vehicles. |
| Four men have been charged with violent disorder in connection to the protests on 17 July. | Four men have been charged with violent disorder in connection to the protests on 17 July. |
| One was also accused of criminally damaging a hotel sign, while a fifth man was accused of refusing to remove a face covering. | One was also accused of criminally damaging a hotel sign, while a fifth man was accused of refusing to remove a face covering. |
| Officers have been injured while policing protests at the Bell Hotel, Essex Police said | |
| The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. |
| Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody during a hearing on Thursday. | Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody during a hearing on Thursday. |
| Protests have also been staged outside the Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf after it was designated as asylum accommodation. | Protests have also been staged outside the Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf after it was designated as asylum accommodation. |
| Andrew Wood, a former Tower Hamlets Conservative councillor, told the BBC the hotel became asylum housing within the past few days. | Andrew Wood, a former Tower Hamlets Conservative councillor, told the BBC the hotel became asylum housing within the past few days. |
| The Home Office refused to confirm if that was true, but denied rumours on social media that migrants from the Bell Hotel were being moved there. | The Home Office refused to confirm if that was true, but denied rumours on social media that migrants from the Bell Hotel were being moved there. |
| However, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: "We are aware of the government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers." | However, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: "We are aware of the government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers." |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |