Police can order hotel protesters to remove masks

Essex Police said "the right to protest does not include a right to commit crime"

Officers will be able to order people to remove face coverings if they are worn during a protest outside a hotel that is housing asylum seekers.

Essex Police said a Section 60AA order, under the Public Order Act 1986, has been put in place in Epping, giving officers this power. A dispersal order is also in place.

Earlier, two men from the local area were charged in relation to incidents outside the town's Bell Hotel on Friday night.

One man was charged with failing to produce a specimen after being arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and the second with assaulting an emergency worker.

The police force has issued a map showing the extent of the dispersal order area in Epping

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: "We never take the decision to impose restrictions on members of the public lightly.

"However, we must guard against the impact of anti-social behaviour on our community and these orders will give us extra powers to deal with that should it become necessary to do so."

The Section 60AA order will run for up to 24 hours; the dispersal order will run until 04:00 BST on Sunday.

The assistant chief constable said Essex Police would "always seek to facilitate lawful protest, but that does not include a right to commit crime".

"The strength of feeling in Epping is not lost on me – or anyone in Essex Police – and I would urge anyone who wants to make their voices heard to please do that peacefully," he added.

The latest in a series of protests was held on Epping High Road after the Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction that had blocked asylum seekers from living there.

Police said officers were maintaining a police cordon on Friday evening when a white car reportedly drove towards the officers, on the wrong side of the road.

Officers stopped the vehicle and took the driver into custody on suspicion of drink driving.

Ross Ellis, 49, of Orchard Croft, Harlow, has now been charged with failing to provide a specimen. He is due before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

A second man was arrested at 21:20 after a police officer sustained an ankle injury.

Jimmy Hillard, 52, of Chequers Road in Loughton, has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and is due in court on Monday.

A third man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder remains in custody.

Mr Pavelin said: "We've worked very closely with our Crown Prosecution Service colleagues overnight to secure these charges, and the cases will now proceed through the court system appropriately.

"To our residents in Epping, you will continue to see a policing presence in the area throughout this afternoon and into this evening."