Policing Cost of Epping Asylum Seeker Protests Hits £100,000

Police in Epping, Essex, have reported that the cost of policing protests outside the Bell Hotel, believed to be housing asylum seekers, has reached £100,000. The protests, which escalated from initially peaceful gatherings, involved more than 100 demonstrators and resulted in eight police officers being injured. The unrest followed the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu with sexual assault related to an alleged incident with a 14-year-old girl, which Kebatu denies. Authorities have arrested multiple individuals on charges including violent disorder and criminal damage, emphasizing that the disturbances are classified as hooliganism rather than legitimate protests. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow condemned the violence and misinformation on social media, highlighting the impact on police officers and the community, and vowed accountability for those responsible. A continued visible police presence remains in Epping to maintain order in the coming days.