A growing asylum hotel protests crisis has forced a local council to take legal action. Epping Forest District Council is seeking a High Court injunction to stop The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers, citing safety risks and community unrest.
The Conservative-led council argues the hotel’s use for asylum accommodation violates planning rules and fuels tensions. Leader Chris Whitbread said they were “left with no choice” after months of protests turned disruptive. The Home Office declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
Hundreds have demonstrated outside the hotel since July, with 28 arrests—16 charged—linked to clashes. Police reported assaults and damaged vehicles during the asylum hotel protests. Counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism have also mobilized, deepening divisions.
Resentment flared after a hotel resident, Hadush Kebatu, was charged with sexual offenses. Though he denies the allegations, the case intensified local opposition. The council claims the Home Office fails to conduct criminal checks on occupants, heightening safety fears near schools and a care home.
Refugee charity Care4Calais says migrants at The Bell are now too scared to leave. Meanwhile, the Home Office notes a 48% drop in asylum hotels since 2023, but critics argue the policy remains flawed.
The council’s injunction request, filed this week, could block the hotel’s current use within 14 days if approved. Officials compare the unrest to a nightclub’s disruptive impact, demanding urgent intervention.
As asylum hotel protests divide communities, the High Court’s decision will set a precedent for similar disputes nationwide. With legal, humanitarian, and security issues colliding, Essex’s struggle reflects Britain’s broader migration challenges.
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