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| Rival groups stage protests at Epping migrant hotel | Rival groups stage protests at Epping migrant hotel |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters were kept apart by police as they staged rival demonstrations in Epping | Anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters were kept apart by police as they staged rival demonstrations in Epping |
| Thousands of anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters have been demonstrating outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex. | Thousands of anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters have been demonstrating outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex. |
| Between 300 and 400 anti-migrant protesters were at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James Bryant, some waving St George's flags while others had banners and signs with slogans including: "Protect our kids". | |
| But they were greatly outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters, many of whom were chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here." | But they were greatly outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters, many of whom were chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here." |
| Essex Police said the protests were "peaceful" but that three people had been arrested. | |
| Protests began at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is being used to house asylum seekers, on 13 July | Protests began at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is being used to house asylum seekers, on 13 July |
| Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. | Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. |
| Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. | Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. |
| Police estimated 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters made their way to the hotel from the town's station to a pen close to the anti-migrant protest. | |
| Many were carrying posters, banners and placards with slogans including "Unity is strength" and "Stand up to racism", and there were chants of "Nazi scum, off our streets". | |
| They were surrounded by police officers who kept the two groups apart. | |
| Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters were singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!. | Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters were singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!. |
| There were also renditions of Sweet Caroline, YMCA and Come On Eileen. | |
| Protesters gathered at the hotel with banners and St George's flags | Protesters gathered at the hotel with banners and St George's flags |
| Some protesters sang along to patriotic music outside the hotel | Some protesters sang along to patriotic music outside the hotel |
| Simon Dedman, a BBC reporter at the scene, said Reform UK district councillor Jaymey McIvor was among the crowd, and a Reform UK flag could be seen among the union jacks and St George's flags. | Simon Dedman, a BBC reporter at the scene, said Reform UK district councillor Jaymey McIvor was among the crowd, and a Reform UK flag could be seen among the union jacks and St George's flags. |
| By late afternoon, protesters from both sides had started to leave the area around the hotel. | |
| About 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters were at the scene | About 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters were at the scene |
| The pro-immigration protesters made their way from the town's railway station to an area close to the hotel | The pro-immigration protesters made their way from the town's railway station to an area close to the hotel |
| Police stood between the rival groups as the pro-immigration group made their way back to the Tube station. | Police stood between the rival groups as the pro-immigration group made their way back to the Tube station. |
| There was some verbal confrontation between the two factions. | There was some verbal confrontation between the two factions. |
| As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys and Hampshire forces were at the scene. | |
| British Transport Police was also involved in the operation. | |
| The people arrested were a 52-year-old man from Loughton, Essex, on suspicion of a public order offence; a 53-year-old man, also from Loughton, on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence connected with a previous protest; and a woman, 27, from Deptford, south-east London, on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence. | |
| All are currently in custody. | |
| Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex Police said: "I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests. | |
| "Our role is to ensure that you can express your democratic right to protest safely and lawfully and we had a proportionate and robust plan in place to ensure that could happen." | |
| There was a heavy police presence at the protests, with officers from at least 13 forces taking part | |
| Shirley Moonie, Carmen Edwards and Sharon Smith took part in the anti-migrant protest, which they said was to "protect the children" | |
| Carmen Edwards, from the anti-migrant protest, said: "It was all happy, people were dancing, we were singing. There weren't no far-right." | |
| Sharon Smith, who had travelled from nearby Harlow, said she wanted to attend the protest to "protect my grandkids". | |
| She said: "A lot of people showed up; it was good humoured and [there was] music. Everyone wants the same, [which is to] save our children." | |
| However, Lewis Nielsen, officer at Stand up to Racism, said: "We think it is a quite dangerous situation in Epping. | |
| "They are potentially heading towards the same kind of violence we saw in August last year, so we think it is important that anti-racists and anti-fascists come out and mobilise against them. | |
| "People are right to be angry about the cost-of-living crisis, the NHS, the housing crisis. None of that was caused by the refugees in that hotel." | |
| Police had put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and networks. | |
| This gives officers the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest. | |
| Ten people had earlier been charged with offences in relation to this month's disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August. | |
| On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area. | On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area. |
| Police said no arrests were made there. | Police said no arrests were made there. |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |