There was a huge police presence and a cordon around the Britannia Hotel after furious residents protested there last night when it emerged the Government would use it to house asylum seekers. The protests were the latest to rock the country after a series of clashes in Epping over migrants being housed in the Bell Hotel. Police appeared to be preparing for more disruption today, while staff were seen moving beds into the hotel.

Confirming the Britannia would be used to house migrants, Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”

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Police deny ‘bussing’ protesters to asylum hotel

3 hours ago Share Save Lewis Adams BBC News, Essex Tom Symonds BBC News correspondent Share Save

PA Media Police previously said officers had been attacked during protests

A police force has denied it “bussed” pro-refugee protesters to a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Essex Police said it was “categorically wrong” to suggest officers inflamed tensions during a protest at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on 17 July. The pro-refugee group went on to clash with rival protesters, with Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington condemning the “thugs and vandals” responsible. Essex Police said 10 arrests had been made during the protests after eight police officers and two members of hotel staff were injured.

More than 1,000 people have attended demonstrations across 13, 17 and 20 July after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual offences, which he has denied.

Stuart Woodward/BBC Ben-Julian Harrington told journalists that Epping had been targeted by a minority of “thugs and vandals”

Mr Harrington said the protests began peacefully but “escalated to the point of disorder and criminal damage”. But claims about counter-demonstrators being driven to the protests by officers led to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage calling for the chief constable to resign. He accused Essex Police of being “absolutely disgraceful” in how it handled clashes between rival protesters, which led to missiles being thrown. However, a spokesman for the force said the claims were “categorically wrong”. “Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest,” he said. “Later, some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety.”

‘Unacceptable violence’

Four men have been charged with violent disorder in connection to the protests on 17 July. One of them was also accused of criminally damaging a hotel sign, while a fifth man was accused of refusing to remove a face covering. In an update to the gathered media in Chelmsford, Essex, Mr Harrington thanked people who had behaved “peacefully and lawfully”. But he added: “What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping.”

Simon Dedman/BBC Police have been accused of “giving protesters lifts” to the demonstration

The chief constable said there was a robust operation in place ahead of future protests advertised online. He urged people not to spread misinformation online, insisting it had “real world consequences”. Later on Wednesday, Essex Police announced a dispersal order had been put in place from 14:00 BST on Thursday to 08:00 on Friday “to ensure our community in Epping is safe”. The order will give officers the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area of face arrest. Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: “We have identified a small group of people who are intent on committing anti-social behaviour which is not acceptable. “This order will not prevent lawful and peaceful protest, but ensure people are safe both during and after the planned activity. “We are considering the use of other powers available to us to ensure people can carry out their democratic right to protest safely.”

OS A dispersal order has been put in place for Epping on Thursday and Friday

The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody during a hearing on Thursday. Protests have also been staged outside the Britannia International Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf after it was designated as asylum accommodation. Andrew Wood, a former Tower Hamlets Conservative councillor, told the BBC the hotel became asylum housing within the past few days. The Home Office refused to confirm if that was true, but denied rumours on social media that migrants from The Bell Hotel were being moved there. However, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are aware of the government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.”

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Nigel Farage has raged at Essex Police’s treatment of pro-migrant demonstrators in Epping.

Tensions erupted on Tuesday evening with protesters on both sides of the debate demonstrating outside a hotel in Epping used to house asylum seekers.

Nigel accused the police of “bussing in” pro-migrant demonstrators, a claim they denied and the GB News star has now apologised for. It was later confirmed around 40 pro-migrant activists were escorted by police officers to the hotel.

GB NEWS | Nigel Farage lashed out at the treatment of ‘violent’ left-wing demonstrators Speaking on the People’s Channel, Nigel said they were afforded “red carpet treatment” as he launched a furious rant. “I thought it was absolutely astonishing that the police bussed a group called Stand Up to Racism, who had within them Antifa, who we know to be an openly violent organisation, what were they doing bussing them from the station to the Bell Hotel?”, he said. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ‘Is that a regret?’ Charlie Peters grills Essex Police chief after Nigel Farage’s resignation demand

Essex Police chief hits back against calls to resign as he refuses to apologise over migrant protest

Councillors compare migrant hotel protesters to Nazis and urge locals to reject ‘extremists’ “I got a phone call back from a police officer who was in charge of the situation that night to say I was wrong. They didn’t bus them to the protest. They walked them to the protest and they bussed them back later. “If I was slightly out on accuracy, I apologise.”

Essex Police chief rejects calls to resign as he said his focus is with ‘the communities of Epping’ He continued by questioning why mask-clad protesters were allowed to protest with seemingly no police intervention. “From what I can see of it, these counter-protesters, Antifa among them, some with masks on, were given the red carpet to and from the hotel”, he said. “I’m pretty bloomin’ angry about it. I really, really am.” Nigel said it reinforces the suggestion that Britain is a “two-tier” society where “different groups are policed differently”.

PA | Police at a protest outside a suspected asylum hotel in Epping over the weekend

GB News’s National Reporter Charlie Peters asked Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington whether his officers funnelling leftists to the asylum hotel was a wise move given the potential for unsavoury scenes. Julian-Harrington said Essex Police were merely aiding their right to protest and free speech. “There is a duty upon policing to allow people to exercise their right of assembly and protest”, he said. “That is a right under that Human Rights Act. People came under their own volition, they walked up to that protest to make sure we understand that threat and manage and deal with the risks and issues, as we did outside the hotel, as we did on the high street.

GB NEWS | Nigel Farage was left raging “We had officers there and they walked alongside to make sure they understood so they could intervene and prevent crime. That’s what happened, that’s what the photos show and that’s what we did.” Asked if there was any “regret” given the “well known” tensions between the groups and the fact arrests were made, the police chief said: “It’s not for me to comment or try and criticise or examine that operation. “We made 10 arrests. We have managed to ensure that those who were there peacefully protesting were able to do that, and there were many more of those. “They were able to do that and that’s our priority, making sure they can do that.

A Telegraph article has framed recent Essex police failures as cops escorting pro-asylum seeker protesters to the Bell Hotel. However, what the Torygraph failed to mention is that this is from the typical UK police playbook.

In reality, they’re following protesters while trying to extract information along the way.

Essex Police lied about escorting left wing protestors. They only admitted it after this footage was produced clearly showing them doing just that. How much do the Police lie about regularly? Why do they do this? pic.twitter.com/ELaMyAzmxm — Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) July 23, 2025

‘Facilitating free assembly’ at the Bell Hotel

Essex Police have come under fire on social media for ‘escorting’ left-wing protesters to the Bell Hotel housing asylum seekers, where far-right lunatics were gathering.

Essex police have denied escorting them to the hotel. However, videos online very clearly showed police walking alongside protesters. The Assistant Chief Constable, Stuart Hooper, defended their actions. He said:

We have a reasonable duty to protect people who want to exercise their rights. In terms of bringing people to the hotel, the police have a duty to facilitate free assembly.

‘Facilitating free assembly’ – apart from when that assembly involves protesting a genocide, right?

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable ~ John F Kennedy https://t.co/VSvrWFOelF — Ivor Biggen (@GrahamForbes19) July 23, 2025

Thugs assaulting police & hotel staff in Essex get a slap on the wrist while peaceful protestors against genocide risk being jailed on terrorism charges.

The law is an ass. https://t.co/YnjCD5HqVf — Sue Wilson (@Suewilson91) July 22, 2025

Racism, plain and simple

Some of the protesters were seen with signs saying:

I’m not far right I’m worried about my kids

Well, we say ‘protesters’. They were actually Karens (one of them quite literally a Karen) from Reform – most of who were bussed in (ironically):

Reform UK in #Epping The 3 in this photo: 1) @KarenReform, Reform UK candidate and Councillor @McivorJaymey’s mum (he’s Head of Local Government for Reform UK)

2) Town Councillor for Reform Melanie Moakson, Clacton Reform UK and recently @Nigel_Farage’s stand in in Clacton.

3)… pic.twitter.com/p8NqKn6Ka9 — Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 (@reformexposed) July 21, 2025

There was also the predictable ex-BNP Karens there:

One of these ‘strong women’ is Susan Clapp, former BNP candidate, @McivorJaymey.https://t.co/3rQtyMpK30 https://t.co/woC07i2i1K — Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 (@reformexposed) July 21, 2025

Are they planning to protest outside the house of every single one of the 117 people accused of violent and sexual offences in the Epping area? Or is it only the Black and brown ones that are a problem?

Essex constabulary: What we should see disclosed.

I’m open to correction but quite apart from the absurd and destructive evasion over the bussed in counter protestors here is what I think the police should be asked about in terms of *process*: 1/ pic.twitter.com/GGstxEarzW — Ian Acheson 🇬🇧🇮🇪 (@NotThatBigIan) July 23, 2025

Most days in the UK, white men are accused of, or charged with, sexually abusing children. Where is the moral outrage? Where’s the protests and the riots? Or the uproar? That’s right, there is none because its plain and simple racism disguised as ‘protecting children’.

If they really cared about protecting children, there would be a hell of a lot more protests.

In a statement to the BBC, Essex police said:

Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest. Later some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety. To reiterate, we categorically did not drive any counter-protesters to the site on any occasion.

Caught with their pants down

The right wing have kicked up a fuss about police escorting the left-wing protesters for all the wrong reasons. They were incensed that the police might have driven the anti-racist counter-protesters to the site, which the grovelling Essex Constabulary were quick to deny.

The issues were instead that:

•⁠ ⁠The police focused on non-violent protesters, rather than forming a barrier around those committing violence.

•⁠ ⁠It craftily used this as an excuse to tail left-wing protesters while letting the right-wing thugs get away with bigotry and violence, no doubt making the situation worse because they viewed it as ‘protection’.

But no matter what the police were actually trying to do, we have caught them with their pants down – because they lied.

‘Facilitating freedom of assembly’ is just a pretence for gathering intelligence on those dangerous anti-racist, anti-genocide, tofu-eating, planet-protecting wokerati – truly a terrifying national security risk! Cops in Essex just did what they do best: protect the status quo. With successive Tory governments – and now this despicable Labour one, the far-right sit comfortably within that.

In 2025 Britain, fascist thugs can sidle up to a hotel housing men, women, kids, and families fleeing Western-fueled conflict, persecution, and climate ruin, and the state enables them. But is it any wonder when the prime minister is spouting rancid, depraved plans to go after migrants like it’s his (warped) Liam Neeson moment?

Either way, time and again, police have used this underhanded tactic – and we’re sure as hell not buying.

Featured image via the Canary

The police chief at the centre of a row over a protest at an asylum seeker hotel has hit back against calls to resign.

Ben-Julian Harrington from Essex Police thanked the peaceful protesters at the hotel in Epping but confirmed 10 arrests had been made.

When asked at a press conference about his resignation, he told a press conference: “The issue is not about my resignation. It is about the people of Epping. “It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy. That is for Government. It is for Essex Police and the police more generally to make sure that people can go about their rights and business lawfully.”

GB NEWS | Ben-Julian Harrington addresses a press conference

PA | Police officers and protesters on Hemnall Street in Epping

When asked what words he had to parents who were concerned about rioting, he said: “I say to those parents we will have a robust policing operation. Essex is safe. You will have hundreds of officers on duty.” The police chief was asked how many people from the local area attended the protest. Harrington replies “a large proportion”, adding: “But there have, as well, been people who have come in from elsewhere to express their views.” He continued: “What we have is those protesting the use of this hotel, and we’ve got those who are pro-that.”