Epping council votes to urge government to shut asylum hotel

A council has unanimously voted for the government to urge the government’s residence asylum seekers after a series of public demonstrations.

The total number of people arrested after unrest outside the Bell Hotel in Eating has increased to 17 in view of several protests from July 13.

In a pack on Thursday and often a hot public meeting, Cris Whitbred, Conservative Leader of the Epping Forest District Council, said: “I worry that our inhabitants are being infiltrated at the peak of politics in peaceful protests.”

Police said a large group gathered outside the council offices during the meeting – and a peaceful protest was taking place at the Bell Hotel.

Whitbred told the meeting: “I worry that the episting will become a focus and a battleground for the agenda of those extremist groups and they will continue stress as part of their comprehensive campaigns.”

During the meeting, protesters wearing England flags and union jacks stood behind fencing outside the hotel wrapped on his back.

Earlier in the day, the force warned that those who wore face coverings would be asked to remove and those who refuse would be arrested.

The Essex police later confirmed that a person was arrested for wearing a face in the hotel, but the protest was peaceful. Overall, it was the 17th arrest.

CH Supta Simon Anslo said: “I want to thank those who are participating today and are protesting peacefully.

“We will not tolerate anyone thinking that they can come and cause trouble or dissolve the orders that we have put to keep people safe. My message is clear – we will deal with you.”

Action has been taken in the hotel as a person living there was accused of sexual harassment, harassment and abetment of a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hadush Kebatu, a 41 -year -old Ethiopia, denied crimes and lives on remand in custody.

Whitbred said: “Most Eating are peaceful to residents, while it is concerned that our community is suffering permanent losses.

“Since it was first occupied during the epidemic, the council has continuously retained that this hotel is a wrong place.

“It is often occupied by weak people and does not have facilities to support them.”

During the meeting, Orthodox Councilor Holi Whitbread spoke of the councilors who participated or participated in the protests.

Supporting the proposal, he said: “I will never deliberately stay next to the newcomers, which a member did in this chamber on Sunday.

“My grandfather fought against these people in a war. I think anyone who stands shoulder to shoulder with them should hang his head in shame.”

Fellow Conservative Councilor Shane Yarel urged the council not to make perception of protesters.

“It is not appropriate for anyone that turning a racist or Nazi in protest against being branded,” he said.

He stopped his submission by reading a statement of the father of the alleged victim of sexual harassment, which received a permanent ovation from the Chamber and Public Gallery.

Supporting the motion, Jamie Mcivar said for the reform UK that it was a “great shame”, more councilors did not visit protests.

He said: “The people of the applings are worried, they are scared. And what they want in that scenario has to be heard.”

Mcivor went to repeat the claims, Essex negative by policeThat “distant thugs were taken to Bell Hotel” – in which many other members shouted responses, including “fake news” and “misinformation”.

The rest of the Mcivor’s statement condemned the violence and called for the closure of the hotel, as he returned to his seat, welcomed people in a public gallery with a permanent ovation.

Liberal Democrat Councilor Janet Whitehouse, who is the city’s mayor, provided some support and sympathy with the shelter seekers, he said: “We do not know the status of the people kept there.

“It is very sad that the picture of Epping is seen at the national and international level, one of the violence.”

On Thursday, a home office spokesperson said that the number of hotels being used for shelter seekers had reduced by more than 400 in summer in 2023, which had come down to 210.

“We will continue to work together with local police and community partners, epping and across the country, as we fix this broken system,” he said.

Six of the 17 arrested people have been accused of violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to cover a face.

In response to the protest against further plan, a dispersion order was imposed up to 08:00 BST on Friday.

This gave additional powers to the directors to leave the area or face arrest.

The response is divided by epping residents, some feeling that the protests are appropriate, while others told the BBC that they feel uncomfortable.

A 53 -year -old man called Jason, who refused to share his surname, stated that the protest was “a long time coming”.

He continued: “I don’t think the violence is appropriate. I don’t think the police go to the crowd and help the situation, but they have got their work to do.

“People are angry, so they are going to react. I think the people here are angry.”

Supermarket activist Tili Nelson argued that social media had promoted some protests, helped spreading wrong information and turned protests into an incident.

He said: “It is like a social assembly to come together to put his mask and go to the police.”

The 20 -year -old said that there was only positive conversation with some men living in the hotel, which she described as “political people”.

He worried that “the story has completely changed”.

Additional reporting by Nadira Tudor.