Twelfth man charged over asylum hotel protests

Essex Police has thanked people for protesting peacefully on Thursday and over the weekend

A 12th person has been charged in connection with incidents of disorder linked to protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, police said.

Essex Police said demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, Epping, Essex, on Saturday and Sunday were peaceful.

A 52-year-old man from Loughton, Essex, has been charged with a public order offence in connection with previous protests.

He remains on bail until a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 3 October, police said.

Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: "As a police force we aren't here to take sides, we are here simply to protect the public and maintain law and order, facilitating peaceful protest but also allowing all people in Epping to go about their lives with minimal disruption.

"I'm really grateful to the law-abiding majority of attendees at the two most recent protests in Epping.

"They've got a right to make their views and their voices heard and they've done so in a peaceful way. The engagement I have seen has been largely respectful.

"However it's really important that we continue to show that previous violence, against our officers, against property and against people at the hotel, is unacceptable and will be dealt with."

The protests - against the use of the hotel - have followed a man living in the hotel being arrested, and subsequently charged, with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.