Rival groups stage protests at migrant hotel

Anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters were kept apart by police as they staged rival demonstrations in Epping

Thousands of anti-migrant protesters and pro-immigration counter-protesters have been demonstrating outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.

Between 300 and 400 anti-migrant protesters were at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James Bryant, some waving St George's flags while others had banners and signs with slogans including: "Protect our kids".

But they were greatly outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters, many of whom were chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here."

Essex Police said the protests were "peaceful" but that three people had been arrested.

Protests began at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is being used to house asylum seekers, on 13 July

Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was 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.

Police estimated 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters attended, with many making their way to the hotel from the town's station to a pen close to the anti-migrant protest.

Many were carrying posters, banners and placards with slogans including "Unity is strength" and "Stand up to racism", and there were chants of "Nazi scum, off our streets".

They were surrounded by police officers who kept the two groups apart.

Meanwhile, some of the anti-migrant protesters were singing along to patriotic music, including Rule, Britannia!.

There were also renditions of Sweet Caroline, YMCA and Come On Eileen.

Protesters gathered at the hotel with banners and St George's flags

Some protesters sang along to patriotic music outside the hotel

Simon Dedman, a BBC reporter at the scene, said Reform UK district councillor Jaymey McIvor was among the crowd, and a Reform UK flag could be seen among the union jacks and St George's flags.

By late afternoon, protesters from both sides had started to leave the area around the hotel.

About 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters were at the scene

The pro-immigration protesters made their way from the town's railway station to an area close to the hotel

Police stood between the rival groups as the pro-immigration group made their way back to the Tube station.

There was some verbal confrontation between the two factions.

As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys and Hampshire forces were at the scene.

British Transport Police was also involved in the operation.

The people arrested were a 52-year-old man from Loughton, Essex, on suspicion of a public order offence; a 53-year-old man, also from Loughton, on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence connected with a previous protest; and a woman, 27, from Deptford, south-east London, on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence.

All are currently in custody.

Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex Police said: "I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests.

"Our role is to ensure that you can express your democratic right to protest safely and lawfully and we had a proportionate and robust plan in place to ensure that could happen."

There was a heavy police presence at the protests, with officers from at least 13 forces taking part

Shirley Moonie, Carmen Edwards and Sharon Smith took part in the anti-migrant protest, which they said was to "protect the children"

Carmen Edwards, from the anti-migrant protest, said: "It was all happy, people were dancing, we were singing. There weren't no far-right."

Sharon Smith, who had travelled from nearby Harlow, said she wanted to attend the protest to "protect my grandkids".

She said: "A lot of people showed up; it was good humoured and [there was] music. Everyone wants the same, [which is to] save our children."

However, Lewis Nielsen, officer at Stand up to Racism, said: "We think it is a quite dangerous situation in Epping.

"They are potentially heading towards the same kind of violence we saw in August last year, so we think it is important that anti-racists and anti-fascists come out and mobilise against them.

"People are right to be angry about the cost-of-living crisis, the NHS, the housing crisis. None of that was caused by the refugees in that hotel."

Police had put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and networks.

This gives officers the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face arrest.

Ten people had earlier been charged with offences in relation to this month's disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August.

On Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area.

Police said no arrests were made there.