Epping's asylum seeker protests leave lasting divisions and costly policing

Protests sparked by the arrest of Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu at The Bell Hotel in Epping escalated into violent disorder, leading to six jail sentences and a £1.7 million policing bill.

The detention of Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu, accused of assaulting a schoolgirl and a woman while staying at The Bell Hotel, ignited protests in the affluent Essex town of Epping. While the majority of demonstrators claimed to act in the community’s interest, several incidents escalated, resulting in six convictions for violent disorder and prompting Epping Forest District Council to weigh evacuating surrounding houses.

The controversy has forced many long-standing locals, including a British-Bangladeshi homeowner, to move away and has fueled broader discussions about the suitability of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. Local Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson expressed relief at the hotel’s closure, and the cost of policing the protests reached roughly £1.7 million. Community groups report a climate of heightened racism and tension, with some residents describing the area as a “warzone.”