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| Council urges the government to close Epping asylum hotel | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police officers maintain a presence outside Epping Forest District Council offices as a meeting about the unrest takes place | Police officers maintain a presence outside Epping Forest District Council offices as a meeting about the unrest takes place |
| A council has voted unanimously to urge the government to close a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of public demonstrations. | |
| The number of people arrested after unrest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping has risen to 16 - in the wake of protests on 13, 17 and 20 July. | The number of people arrested after unrest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping has risen to 16 - in the wake of protests on 13, 17 and 20 July. |
| At a packed and often heated public meeting on Thursday, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, said: "I am concerned that our residents' peaceful protests are being infiltrated on the extremes of politics." | At a packed and often heated public meeting on Thursday, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, said: "I am concerned that our residents' peaceful protests are being infiltrated on the extremes of politics." |
| A large group of people gathered outside the council offices during the meeting - and a "peaceful" protest was taking place at the Bell Hotel, police said. | |
| The force also warned that people who wore face coverings would be asked to remove them and those who refused would be arrested. | |
| In a statement it said: "Our priority is keeping Epping safe. We're here to support peaceful protest – but we will not tolerate criminal behaviour." | In a statement it said: "Our priority is keeping Epping safe. We're here to support peaceful protest – but we will not tolerate criminal behaviour." |
| Whitbread told the meeting: "I'm worried that Epping will become a focus and a battleground for the agendas of those extremist groups and they will continue to stoke tensions as part of their wider campaigns." | |
| The number of people arrested in connection with unrest at the Epping hotel rose from 10 on Wednesday to 16 on Thursday | The number of people arrested in connection with unrest at the Epping hotel rose from 10 on Wednesday to 16 on Thursday |
| Action has been staged at the hotel since a man living there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | Action has been staged at the hotel since a man living there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. |
| Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody. | Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody. |
| Whitbread added: "The majority of Epping residents are peaceful while concerned that lasting harm is being done to our community. | Whitbread added: "The majority of Epping residents are peaceful while concerned that lasting harm is being done to our community. |
| "Since it was first occupied during the pandemic this council has consistently maintained this hotel is the wrong location. | "Since it was first occupied during the pandemic this council has consistently maintained this hotel is the wrong location. |
| "It is occupied often by vulnerable people and there are not the facilities here to support them." | "It is occupied often by vulnerable people and there are not the facilities here to support them." |
| Protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel on Thursday evening | |
| During the meeting, councillor Holly Whitbread spoke critically of councillors who had encouraged or taken part in protests. | |
| While supporting the motion she said: "I would never knowingly stand next to neo-Nazis, which is what a member in this chamber did on Sunday. | |
| "My grandad fought in a war against these people. I think quite frankly anyone who stands side by side with them should hang their head in shame." | |
| Fellow Conservative councillor Shane Yerrell urged the council not to make assumptions about protesters. | |
| "It is not fair for anyone turning up at the protest to be branded a racist or a Nazi," he said. | |
| He closed his submission by reading a statement from the father of the alleged victim of sexual assault, which received a standing ovation from the chamber and the public gallery. | |
| A large police presence had gathered outside the council officers and the Bell hotel | |
| While supporting the motion, Jaymey McIvor, for Reform UK, said it was a "great shame" more councillors had not visited the protests. | |
| He said: "The people of Epping are worried, they're scared. And what they want in that scenario is to be listened to." | |
| McIvor went on to repeat claims, refuted by Essex Police, that "far left thuggery were escorted to the Bell Hotel" - to which several other members shouted responses including "fake news" and "misinformation". | |
| The rest of McIvor's statement condemned violence and called for the closure of the hotel, as he returned to his seat he was greeted with a standing ovation from people in the public gallery. | |
| Liberal Democrat councillor Janet Whitehouse, who is Epping Town mayor, provided some support and sympathy with asylum seekers, saying: "We don't know the situation of the people placed there. | |
| "It's very sad that the picture of Epping being seen nationally and internationally is one of violence." | |
| Essex Police released drone footage of crowds gathering in Epping on 17 July | Essex Police released drone footage of crowds gathering in Epping on 17 July |
| Of the 16 arrested, six people have been charged with offences including violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to remove a face covering. | Of the 16 arrested, six people have been charged with offences including violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to remove a face covering. |
| A dispersal order was imposed until 08:00 BST on Friday in response to further planned protests. | A dispersal order was imposed until 08:00 BST on Friday in response to further planned protests. |
| It gave officers extra powers to direct people to leave the area or face arrest. | It gave officers extra powers to direct people to leave the area or face arrest. |
| There has been a heavy police presence during the protests in recent days | There has been a heavy police presence during the protests in recent days |
| Reaction from Epping residents has been divided, with some feeling the protests are justified while others told the BBC they felt uncomfortable. | Reaction from Epping residents has been divided, with some feeling the protests are justified while others told the BBC they felt uncomfortable. |
| A 53-year-old man called Jason, who declined to share his surname, said the protests had been "a long time coming". | A 53-year-old man called Jason, who declined to share his surname, said the protests had been "a long time coming". |
| He continued: "I don't think the violence is justified, I don't think that the police help the situation by going in mob handed but they've got to do their job. | He continued: "I don't think the violence is justified, I don't think that the police help the situation by going in mob handed but they've got to do their job. |
| "People are angry, so they're going to react… I think the people here are justified in being angry." | "People are angry, so they're going to react… I think the people here are justified in being angry." |
| People refusing to wear face coverings have been warned they could be arrested | People refusing to wear face coverings have been warned they could be arrested |
| Supermarket worker Tilly Nelson argued that social media has fuelled some of the protesting, helped spread misinformation and turned the protests into an event. | Supermarket worker Tilly Nelson argued that social media has fuelled some of the protesting, helped spread misinformation and turned the protests into an event. |
| She said: "It's like a social gathering to come together to put their mask on and have a go at the police." | She said: "It's like a social gathering to come together to put their mask on and have a go at the police." |
| The 20-year-old said she has had only positive interactions with some of the men who live at the hotel, who she describes as "the politest people". | The 20-year-old said she has had only positive interactions with some of the men who live at the hotel, who she describes as "the politest people". |
| She shared concerns the "narrative has completely changed". | She shared concerns the "narrative has completely changed". |
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