Major police restrictions have been put in place ahead of a demonstration outside a hotel in Essex used to house asylum seekers.
Tommy Robinson is among the protesters expected to gather again at The Bell Hotel in Epping after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, has denied charges and will stand trial in August.
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism is also set to go ahead at 2pm.
Designated sites for protesters have been set up opposite the building, and anyone attending will be banned from wearing face coverings, police have said.
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Officers will also have the power to remove anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour through a dispersal order in place around Epping from 12pm today until 8am on Monday.
Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) – who wrote last week that he would bring ‘thousands’ with him to the Essex town – has threatened that he will attend the rally as well.
However he has more recently played down the prospect of him coming to the protest.
Residents have reported feeling ‘trapped’ and unable to leave their homes during demonstrations.
Hotel residents and staff have been advised to remain indoors after 5pm as some have experienced verbal and physical harassment.
It comes amid reports of an ‘escalation of violence’ during previous protests in the area on July 13, 17, 20 and 24, all involving hundreds of people.
This included missiles being thrown, vehicles vandalised, officers assaulted and damage to the hotel including graffiti and smashed windows.
Yesterday, two further people were charged following violent disorder in the area.
Lee Gower, 43, was detained after beating an emergency worker from an incident on July 17 and has been remanded in custody to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday July 26.
Joshua Meadows, 18, was charged with failing to adhere to a request by a constable to remove an item he was wearing and possession of cannabis on July 24.
He has been bailed to Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 24 September.
Who owns the Bell Hotel Epping?
The Bell Hotel is owned by the Somani Hotels group, which also operates several properties in neighbouring counties, including the Aubrey Park Hotel in St Albans.
The group is owned by businessman Hassan Somani.
What happened at Brook Hotel Norwich?
Another protest took place at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Bowthorpe near Norwich on Saturday.
Anti-asylum seeker protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators outside both the Brook Hotel and Diss Hotel.
Some protesters shouted slogans including ‘We want our country back’.
While the rally was reported to be noisy and intense, officers said it was largely peaceful.
Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: ‘We would like to thank the public for their understanding today, particularly during some short periods of disruption whilst groups were exercising their rights to peaceful protest.’
Two men in their 20s were arrested at the protests and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre where they remain, Norfolk Police said.
There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is reportedly set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Why are hotels being used to house asylum seekers?
The government is using hotels to house asylum seekers due to a shortage of alternative accommodation.
Under the Immigration Act, the Home Secretary is obliged to provide accommodation to all destitute asylum seekers while their claims are being determined.
The increased use of hotels also comes amid an increase in migrants crossing the Channel in small boats and a backlog in unsolved asylum cases.
The number of people receiving asylum support in hotels reached a peak in September 2023, when 45 per cent of asylum seekers were housed in these facilities.
As many as 220 hotels were in use in July 2024, government statistics show.
Since coming to power last year, Labour has said it remains committed to ending the procurement of asylum hotels and aims to return to the use of dispersed accommodation once the backlog has been reduced.
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