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| Epping asylum hotel case could set precedent, court told | Epping asylum hotel case could set precedent, court told |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over recent weeks | The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over recent weeks |
| An injunction due to temporarily block asylum seekers from being housed at an Essex hotel creates a "risk of a precedent being set", the Court of Appeal has heard. | An injunction due to temporarily block asylum seekers from being housed at an Essex hotel creates a "risk of a precedent being set", the Court of Appeal has heard. |
| Lawyers for the Home Office and The Bell Hotel in Epping have been challenging a High Court ruling stopping migrants from living at the venue. | Lawyers for the Home Office and The Bell Hotel in Epping have been challenging a High Court ruling stopping migrants from living at the venue. |
| Mr Justice Eyre ordered all 138 asylum seekers must be removed from the hotel by 16:00 BST on 12 September, after legal action by Epping Forest District Council. | Mr Justice Eyre ordered all 138 asylum seekers must be removed from the hotel by 16:00 BST on 12 September, after legal action by Epping Forest District Council. |
| At the start of a day-long appeal hearing on Thursday, barristers said the "extremely high-profile nature of the issue" could be damaging for the asylum accommodation programme. | At the start of a day-long appeal hearing on Thursday, barristers said the "extremely high-profile nature of the issue" could be damaging for the asylum accommodation programme. |
| Other councils have announced their intentions go to court and seek similar injunctions against the use of hotels in their areas. | Other councils have announced their intentions go to court and seek similar injunctions against the use of hotels in their areas. |
| It followed Epping's local authority successfully arguing the hotel's use breached planning laws. | It followed Epping's local authority successfully arguing the hotel's use breached planning laws. |
| 'Hardship' | 'Hardship' |
| Piers Riley-Smith, for Somani Hotels, which owns The Bell Hotel, said the injunction created a "risk of a precedent being set". | Piers Riley-Smith, for Somani Hotels, which owns The Bell Hotel, said the injunction created a "risk of a precedent being set". |
| He added the ruling was set to cause "the loss of accommodation for asylum seekers", impacting the Home Office's ability to perform its legal duties to them. | He added the ruling was set to cause "the loss of accommodation for asylum seekers", impacting the Home Office's ability to perform its legal duties to them. |
| There was "no evidence where exactly they would go" if the judge's decision was not overturned, Mr Riley-Smith added, claiming he "overlooked" the "hardship" they would face. | There was "no evidence where exactly they would go" if the judge's decision was not overturned, Mr Riley-Smith added, claiming he "overlooked" the "hardship" they would face. |
| Asylum seekers will face "hardship" if removed from the hotel, the court has been told | Asylum seekers will face "hardship" if removed from the hotel, the court has been told |
| Before making his judgement on 19 August, Mr Justice Eyre refused an 11th-hour effort from the home secretary to get the case dismissed. | Before making his judgement on 19 August, Mr Justice Eyre refused an 11th-hour effort from the home secretary to get the case dismissed. |
| However, in court on Thursday, her lawyer said the judge "erred in declining" Cooper to participate in proceedings. | However, in court on Thursday, her lawyer said the judge "erred in declining" Cooper to participate in proceedings. |
| Edward Brown KC said: "Her rights were clearly affected, and she ought to have been heard in the application." | Edward Brown KC said: "Her rights were clearly affected, and she ought to have been heard in the application." |
| He accused the council of not identifying a "significant planning concern" at the hotel. | He accused the council of not identifying a "significant planning concern" at the hotel. |
| Mr Brown added the case "runs the risk of acting as an impetus for further protests, some of which may be disorderly, around other asylum accommodation". | |
| The Bell Hotel previously housed asylum seekers from May 2020 to March 2021, from October 2022 to April 2024, and since April 2025. | |
| The council asked for the injunction to be granted after thousands of people protested against the use of the hotel as asylum seeker accommodation. | The council asked for the injunction to be granted after thousands of people protested against the use of the hotel as asylum seeker accommodation. |
| It became the focal point of several protests and counter-protests in recent weeks, after a migrant housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl. | It became the focal point of several protests and counter-protests in recent weeks, after a migrant housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl. |
| Philip Coppel KC, for the local authority, argued there was "no compelling reason" for the appeal bid to be allowed. | Philip Coppel KC, for the local authority, argued there was "no compelling reason" for the appeal bid to be allowed. |
| The hearing is expected to conclude later on Thursday. | The hearing is expected to conclude later on Thursday. |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |