Demonstrators gathered in Epping, northeast of London, following the arrest of an asylum seeker in early July on three charges of sexual assault, including an alleged attempt to kiss a 14-year-old girl. the protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations in the area.
Essex Police stated they had implemented a “strong police operation to protect our community and to handle quickly to anyone who intended to commit crimes or disruption of violence.”
Protesters assembled outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which has been used to house asylum seekers and refugees, despite a request from the local city council for its closure.One demonstrator, identifying herself as Cathy, told AFP, “They (asylum seekers and refugees) are threats. They don’t know who they are, who they allowed to enter these hotels, and basically they endanger everyone.”
A counter-presentation was held by the Stand Up To Racism association,with participants chanting slogans such as “refugees were accepted here” and “whose streets? Our streets.”
Essex Police reported that three arrests were made on Sunday, though the demonstration was described as “generally peaceful.” The reasons for the arrests were not specified.
The influx of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats,coupled with economic challenges in Britain,has fueled public anger among some segments of the population. Social media messages, reportedly amplified by far-right activists, have further intensified these sentiments.
In 2025, nearly 24,000 migrants have made the perilous journey across the English Channel, marking the highest number recorded in recent years.
