Essex Police have been caught out escorting pro-migrant protesters in vans and on foot to a hotel in Epping where protests broke out over migrants.
Essex Police initially denied escorting the pro-migrant protesters to the Bell Hotel, but now after being caught out lying after being shown a video they have made a U-turn making a bizarre claim it was their “duty” to do so.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “We have a reasonable duty to protect people who want to exercise their rights.
In terms of bringing people to the hotel, the police have a duty to facilitate free assembly.
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We would only ever take people away from protest if we felt there was an immediate threat to people or property, to free up police resources, to protect others, or to prevent additional violence.
“In Epping, officers took all three of those into account before making their decisions.”
Locals warned that by Essex Police escorting the pro-migrant protesters this will make clashes inevitable.
The leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage said that “heads must roll” at Essex Police, blasting, “I didn’t want to believe this had happened, and then I saw the video.
It’s an absolute disgrace, and the police’s priorities need urgently looking at.
He added, “Essex Police escorted protesters to the hotel in Epping to force a confrontation.
“Initially, they denied that it had ever happened in the first place. Heads must roll.”
Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread said he wants the hotel to be closed.
Speaking to the BBC Whitbread said, “I understand families who are deeply upset by what’s happened and I really get it.”
🔥@EssexPoliceUK let’s see you explain WHY you were transporting LEFTWING STINKY activists from Epping train station to the Bell Hotel and then back again in police vehicles?! pic.twitter.com/azjCg19avt
— Pippa B 🇬🇧🏴 🚜 ❤️ 🇮🇱 (@pippaisright) July 18, 2025
He added, “From day one, Epping Forest District Council had a position of ‘this was the wrong location for this hotel and it’s a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen’.
Last Thursday’s protest outside the Bell Hotel came after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old asylum seeker, was charged with sexual assault as it was alleged he attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
He denies the allegations.
