Police bill for Epping protests could reach £1.7m

Tensions have been high over the housing of 138 asylum seekers at The Bell Hotel

The cost of policing protests in Epping could reach £1.7m by October, a crime panel meeting was told.

Thousands of people have demonstrated in the town after an asylum seeker, Hadush Kebatu, was charged with sexual offences in July.

Since then, Essex Police have arrested 32 people in connection with the disorder outside The Bell Hotel, where Kebatu, who was later jailed, was staying.

Roger Hirst, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex, said the force's response had required a "substantial level" of resources.

Speaking at an Essex crime panel meeting, Hirst said: "I think some [officers] even came from Wales to support [us]."

Roger Hirst was first elected as Essex's police, fire and crime commissioner in 2016

Essex Police would only receive help from the government if costs topped £4m, the Conservative explained, meaning the force had to swallow the bill it faced.

"It's a classic public service conundrum," he said.

"You have the requirement right now, you have to do it. That's the job."

The latest protest outside The Bell Hotel took place on Thursday evening.

While most action has been peaceful, Essex Police said eight officers were hurt on 17 July, when fireworks were let off and eggs thrown.

Epping Forest District Council has been trying to block The Bell from housing asylum seekers at the High Court.

It was awarded a temporary injunction in August, but this was later overturned at the Court of Appeal.

The full legal challenge will return to the High Court on 15 October.

Tensions first flared in July when Kebatu, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

He was found guilty of those offences at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and jailed for one year on Tuesday.