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| Epping hotel's asylum seekers to be removed - what happens next? | Epping hotel's asylum seekers to be removed - what happens next? |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Bell Hotel has been told it can no longer house asylum seekers | The Bell Hotel has been told it can no longer house asylum seekers |
| You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone outside of Epping who had heard of The Bell Hotel eight weeks ago. | You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone outside of Epping who had heard of The Bell Hotel eight weeks ago. |
| But now the building in the leafy Essex town has become a reluctant symbol of the political tension surrounding immigration. | But now the building in the leafy Essex town has become a reluctant symbol of the political tension surrounding immigration. |
| It is one of 210 hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK and was thrust into the spotlight after a man lodging inside was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. | It is one of 210 hotels housing asylum seekers across the UK and was thrust into the spotlight after a man lodging inside was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. |
| Thousands of people have protested peacefully outside the premises since the allegation emerged in early July. | |
| However, at times, demonstrations have turned violent and police officers reported being injured. | However, at times, demonstrations have turned violent and police officers reported being injured. |
| On Tuesday, the situation reached a climax. | On Tuesday, the situation reached a climax. |
| A High Court judge ruled all asylum seekers must be removed from the building, following legal action by Epping Forest District Council. | A High Court judge ruled all asylum seekers must be removed from the building, following legal action by Epping Forest District Council. |
| When will the asylum seekers move out? | When will the asylum seekers move out? |
| Several people have been arrested and charged over disorder during protests at The Bell Hotel | Several people have been arrested and charged over disorder during protests at The Bell Hotel |
| The government has been given a deadline of 12 September to remove the residents. | The government has been given a deadline of 12 September to remove the residents. |
| It means the Home Office and its contractors must find alternative accommodation by then. | It means the Home Office and its contractors must find alternative accommodation by then. |
| The injunction imposed by Mr Justice Eyre is temporary, with a full hearing to be held in the autumn. | The injunction imposed by Mr Justice Eyre is temporary, with a full hearing to be held in the autumn. |
| But in practice, it stands indefinitely unless and until the hotel's owner or the government are able to reverse the decision. | But in practice, it stands indefinitely unless and until the hotel's owner or the government are able to reverse the decision. |
| Lawyers for both of those parties have confirmed they wish to appeal the injunction. | Lawyers for both of those parties have confirmed they wish to appeal the injunction. |
| Where could they go? | Where could they go? |
| The short answer is it appears nobody knows. | The short answer is it appears nobody knows. |
| Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis said the government was "looking at options" on how to rehouse the asylum seekers. | Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis said the government was "looking at options" on how to rehouse the asylum seekers. |
| He said part of this process was finding "suitably appropriate alternative accommodation". | He said part of this process was finding "suitably appropriate alternative accommodation". |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jarvis added the government had "never thought that hotels were an appropriate source of accommodation for asylum seekers". | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jarvis added the government had "never thought that hotels were an appropriate source of accommodation for asylum seekers". |
| Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called for asylum seekers to be housed in camps which could be policed, rather than hotels. | Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called for asylum seekers to be housed in camps which could be policed, rather than hotels. |
| She suggested detention centres could be built at speed, similar to how Nightingale pop-up hospitals were during the Covid-19 pandemic. | She suggested detention centres could be built at speed, similar to how Nightingale pop-up hospitals were during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, also proposed using the Crown Estate to house migrants. | Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, also proposed using the Crown Estate to house migrants. |
| He said the Home Office had not contacted him to say where The Bell Hotel's occupants would be relocated. | He said the Home Office had not contacted him to say where The Bell Hotel's occupants would be relocated. |
| "I have had no constructive conversations with the Home Office whatsoever throughout this whole process," Whitbread added. | "I have had no constructive conversations with the Home Office whatsoever throughout this whole process," Whitbread added. |
| What have residents said? | What have residents said? |
| "I don't know where the government will find to put them next," one local woman told the BBC. | "I don't know where the government will find to put them next," one local woman told the BBC. |
| Dave Austin, from nearby Theydon Bois, said there had been a feeling of "unease" in the area in recent weeks, but the injunction was "great news". | Dave Austin, from nearby Theydon Bois, said there had been a feeling of "unease" in the area in recent weeks, but the injunction was "great news". |
| "I hope it starts a ball rolling for a great unravelling of the situation we've got at the moment, where there seems to be a huge deluge of asylum seekers," he said. | "I hope it starts a ball rolling for a great unravelling of the situation we've got at the moment, where there seems to be a huge deluge of asylum seekers," he said. |
| "I can see their plight, I can see why there's a problem, but it just seems to be growing, growing and growing and it's getting hugely expensive." | "I can see their plight, I can see why there's a problem, but it just seems to be growing, growing and growing and it's getting hugely expensive." |
| Brenda Scotto, 74, claimed the injunction was needed "because it wasn't safe for children, especially young girls, to be walking along the High Road". | Brenda Scotto, 74, claimed the injunction was needed "because it wasn't safe for children, especially young girls, to be walking along the High Road". |
| But 30-year-old Cara Hobson said it was not "a full solution to the larger issue at hand". | But 30-year-old Cara Hobson said it was not "a full solution to the larger issue at hand". |
| Umar Hassan, who works in Epping, added: "I think the government should find suitable accommodation for immigrants." | Umar Hassan, who works in Epping, added: "I think the government should find suitable accommodation for immigrants." |
| What do the asylum seekers say? | What do the asylum seekers say? |
| Wael said he felt respected in Epping | Wael said he felt respected in Epping |
| Mohammad arrived at The Bell Hotel after illegally immigrating from Iran. | Mohammad arrived at The Bell Hotel after illegally immigrating from Iran. |
| He told the BBC people had the right to be angry if any of the hotel's residents broke the law. | He told the BBC people had the right to be angry if any of the hotel's residents broke the law. |
| But Mohammad insisted the majority of people living in The Bell Hotel were "very good people". | But Mohammad insisted the majority of people living in The Bell Hotel were "very good people". |
| "I want to make my future here because [in] my country I don't have support from the government," he said. | "I want to make my future here because [in] my country I don't have support from the government," he said. |
| "I'm married, I have a son, my son and wife [are] in Iran. I want to bring them [here]. I want to make my future here." | "I'm married, I have a son, my son and wife [are] in Iran. I want to bring them [here]. I want to make my future here." |
| He said his fellow asylum seekers supported people's right to protest. | He said his fellow asylum seekers supported people's right to protest. |
| One of them, Wael, previously said people had been respectful towards him. | One of them, Wael, previously said people had been respectful towards him. |
| "I will not stay here and take food. I have a dream - to make money and play football and have fun with my time," he said. | "I will not stay here and take food. I have a dream - to make money and play football and have fun with my time," he said. |
| What has the hotel said? | What has the hotel said? |
| The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over the summer | The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over the summer |
| The Bell Hotel is owned by Somani Hotels Limited, a small firm which has its registered office in Epping. | The Bell Hotel is owned by Somani Hotels Limited, a small firm which has its registered office in Epping. |
| It previously housed asylum seekers from May 2020 to March 2021, and from October 2022 to April 2024. | It previously housed asylum seekers from May 2020 to March 2021, and from October 2022 to April 2024. |
| Representing the business at the High Court, barrister Piers Riley-Smith said contracts to house asylum seekers were a "financial lifeline" for the hotel. | Representing the business at the High Court, barrister Piers Riley-Smith said contracts to house asylum seekers were a "financial lifeline" for the hotel. |
| The venue was only 1% full in August 2022, when it was open to paying customers. | The venue was only 1% full in August 2022, when it was open to paying customers. |
| Mr Riley-Smith said the injunction would cause asylum seekers "hardship" and set "a dangerous precedent that protests justify planning injunctions". | Mr Riley-Smith said the injunction would cause asylum seekers "hardship" and set "a dangerous precedent that protests justify planning injunctions". |
| The barrister said it was "entirely wrong" for the council to "suggest the use has been hidden from them". | The barrister said it was "entirely wrong" for the council to "suggest the use has been hidden from them". |
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