POLICE have arrested 16 suspects in a crackdown after disorder broke out over taxpayer-funded asylum seeker hotels.
Essex Police released bodycam footage of one arrest, where they demanded the man put his hands up before handcuffing him in his living room.
Not known, clear with picture deskThis is the dramatic moment police arrested a suspect as disorder breaks out over taxpayer-funded asylum seeker hotels[/caption]
Essex PoliceFootage shows the arrest of a suspect after disorder in Epping[/caption]
LNPNew warning signs have been placed on a post outside The Bell hotel, today in Epping[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialBritannia Hotel in Canary Wharf is set to house migrants[/caption]
Detectives searched his home for clothing the man in his 20s allegedly wore on a day of disorder.
Cops have now made 16 arrests for offences including violent disorder and criminal damage, and six people have been charged.
These include Kenneth Blissett, 34, of Harlow, who was charged with theft of police equipment and possession of an offensive weapon.
He is on bail and is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September.
The protest, outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, began peacefully but escalated into what officers described as “scattered incidents of violence” targeting police and property.
Eight officers were injured and a number of police vehicles were damaged as missiles were thrown.
It comes as barriers are blocking off entry to a four-star hotel being converted to house asylum seekers,
In the video of one arrest, a cop can be heard saying: “Hello mate, you all right? Put your hands up for me. You are going to be arrested, you are under arrest for section two violent disorder for an offence that occurred on July 17.
“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
“The reason for your arrest is so we can interview you about it and also do post arrest searches.
“We will be searching for items of clothing you were wearing on the day. Understand?”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “We’d promised that we’d continue our investigations into the unacceptable actions of a small number of people who chose to take advantage of peaceful protest to try to cause harm to people in Epping or to property.
“We’ve been analysing footage and we have investigators and trained detectives working on this operation.
“We are identifying suspects and there will be more arrests in the coming days.
“Put simply: If you turn up to try to cause trouble, you won’t get away with it.”
ESSEX POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY
It comes after the Chief Constable of Essex Police refused to resign after footage showed officers escorting pro-migrant activists to an asylum seeker hotel.
Essex Police had initially denied it brought demonstrators from Stand Up to Racism to the Bell Hotel in Epping before clashes with anti-migrant protesters last Sunday (July 17).
The force changed its tune after being shown footage of the activists apparently being led by officers from a station to outside the hotel while holding placards.
However, while accepting it provided a “foot cordon”, the force has denied claims today it specifically “bussed” the counter-protesters to the hotel.
Essex Police are continuing to face heavy scrutiny over its handling of the protests.
A spokesperson for the force added: “Misinformation has circulated online suggesting we “bussed in” counter protestors during a recent protest in Epping on Thursday 17 July.
“This is categorically untrue.
Essex PoliceDetectives searched his home for clothing the man in his 20s allegedly wore on a day of disorder in Epping[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialA police cordon is placed outside the Britannia Hotel[/caption]
NewsflareA man was run over by a police riot van as chaos broke out[/caption]
“Groups of protestors and counter-protestors – each of which have a legal right to peacefully protest in a public location – attempted to travel to the Bell Hotel on foot, to demonstrate outside the site.
“This is their right and it is not for the police to prevent any one group from doing so, if they are doing so lawfully and peacefully.
“However, officers were aware of a need to keep the groups separate and to keep the peace.
“Therefore, officers ensured they maintained a presence around each group. This also took place on foot.
“This effectively constituted a walking cordon around a group of counter protestors as they walked through
Epping in the direction of the protest.
“No counter protestors were brought to the scene via police transport.”
PREPARATIONS IN CANARY WHARF
It comes as the near 500-room Britannia Hotel in London‘s Canary Wharf is currently preparing for migrants to arrive.
Photos today show new beds and mattresses being unloaded and carried into the four star hotel in the heart of the capital’s swanky docklands, and where rooms can typically cost up to £469 a night.
A spokesman for Tower Hamlets council said: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
“It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.
“We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”
The Home Office has reserved more than 400 beds at the Britannia International Hotel, agreeing a deal for £81 per night for each migrant who stays there.
It has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there.
The Home Office reserves beds in empty hotel rooms in case of a surge in crossings over the summer period.
Home Office sources revealed to The Sun that the average cost per night for a hotel room for a migrant is now £118.87, down from £162.16 in March 2023.
Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the taxpayer £5.77million a day.
According to websites such as Booking.com, the hotel is not taking reservations.
Police were seen guarding outside last night as protesters gathered.
The hotel sits on the waterfront of the South Dock.
SelwynPicsThe Britannia Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf prepares for migrants to arrive[/caption]
SelwynPicsThe Britannia Hotel is due to welcome migrants[/caption]
EPPING PROTESTS
Chaos was sparked outside the hotel in Epping last week after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The unrest saw yobs launching themselves on riot vans, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of “hooliganism”.
One thug was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel.
Another man had his teeth knocked out after riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said “heads will roll” over the escort, which he alleged was done to “force a confrontation”.
The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who was arrested and later charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault.
He appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges.
His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes.
Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000.
There are about 210 hotels under contracts with the Home Office to house migrants.
A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrates’ courts already this year.
Sir Keir Starmer released a statement in response to the growing tensions.
“Well, I think it’s obviously important that communities know that we are working to reduce the number of asylum hotels,” said the PM’s spokesperson.
“That is a clear government policy. But it’s also important that
legitimate protest doesn’t cross over into something else, and we would always hope that communities would respect that.
“But we are, and I think the Prime Minister is on record as saying, about the need to cut migration, both lawfully and illegal migration, and that is something that you’re seeing in working on tirelessly over the last year, whether it be the agreement with the French last week or the agreement with the German government yesterday, that is a priority for this government.
“It is something that requires international solutions, and that is why you’re seeing this flurry of activity from this government to tackle these gangs from every possible angle.”
Police seen escorting pro-migrant protesters to a hotel before violence erupted
LNPA police officer watches over new barriers that are being erected near The Bell hotel today in Epping[/caption]
‘HEADS MUST ROLL’ Fury as cops admit ESCORTING pro-migrant protesters to Epping asylum hotel where violent clashes erupted
By Ryan Merrifield
COPS have admitted escorting pro-migrant protesters to an asylum hotel before violence erupted.
Essex Police had initially denied it brought demonstrators from Stand Up to Racism to the Bell Hotel in Epping before clashes with anti-migrant protesters last Sunday (July 17).
The force changed its tune after being shown footage of the activists apparently being led by officers from a station to outside the hotel while holding placards.
Six people have been charged with offences related to the disorder.
However, while accepting it provided a “foot cordon”, the force has denied claims today it specifically “bussed” the counter-protesters to the hotel.
Essex Police are continuing to face heavy scrutiny over its handling of the protests.
In a press conference today, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy.”
He added that the police are there to “make sure that people can go about their rights and business lawfully” and not judge asylum policy.
Asked if he is considering his position the Essex Police chief said: “The issue is not about my resignation, the issue is about an effective policing operation.”
Nigel Farage earlier blasted the police chief and said “there is no way chief constable BJ Harrington can stay in position.”
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