Home Office not moving migrants from Epping hotel despite fierce backlash

The Home Office have said migrants in an Epping hotel are not being moved after a fresh wave of protests erupted outside another Canary Wharf hotel.

Hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Bell Hotel in Epping last week, chanting ‘send them home’ and clashing with police.

Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, had warned he would bring thousands with him to another planned protest.

More activists gathered outside the £130-a-night Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf protesting plans to move more asylum seekers into the east London tower.

Neighbours said six white coaches arrived at The Britannia early on Tuesday to unload migrants.

The Home Office flatly denied claims that those moving into the Britannia Hotel are from the Bell Hotel.

Their spokesperson told Metro: ‘Asylum seekers are not being removed from The Bell Hotel in Epping.’

However, a spokesperson for Tower Hamlets council said the government was planning to use the Canary Wharf site to house refugees.

A spokesperson for the 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.’

Speculation on social media saw protesters descend on the Britannia Hotel.

Police could be seen lining up outside the entrance of the hotel in response. One protester wearing a St George’s Flag warned: ‘This place is a tinderbox, mark my word.’

A commanding officer was filmed telling angry protesters: ‘Let me tell you nobody from the Bell Hotel is being moved here.’

Lee Anderson, the Chief Whip of Reform UK, said the police had confirmed the ‘rumours’ to him.

He added: ‘The rumours are true. [I am] absolutely furious.

‘This hotel must cost a couple hundred quid a night to stay there. Most normal people could not even afford to stay here for a weekend, but we’ve got illegals coming.

‘I hope the protesters remain peaceful. They seem like a quiet bunch at the moment. Let’s hope it is all peaceful.’

The protests follow disorder in Epping last week, which saw police vans and an undercover car smashed as hundreds of protesters took over the small Essex town.

The protests were sparked following the arrest and charge of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the Essex town.

An officer from Norfolk was struck in the face by a bottle and taken to hospital.

Police hit out at ‘hooligans’ after spending £100,000 to tackle the acts of violent disorder.

Chf Supt Simon Anslow said: ‘The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.’

Neighbours also shouted ‘Go home’ to protesters hurling rocks and flares at police.

Five men have been charged after the alleged violent disorder in Epping.

Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive in Loughton, Essex, denied violent disorder at Southend Magistrates’ Court, but entered no plea to another charge of criminally damaging a sign at the hotel by shaking it.

51-year-old Dean Smith, of Madells in Epping, entered no plea to a charge of using or threatening the use of unlawful violence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

He was remanded in custody until the August hearing.

A 47-year-old and a 36-year-old man, both from the Epping Forest district, werealsocharged with violent disorder on Tuesday.

A 34-year-old man from Wickford was accused of failing to remove a face covering.

The three men were due to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August, Essex Police said.

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