KB-2025-002908 - [2025] EWHC 2937 (KB)

On 8 July 2025, an asylum seeker accommodated at the Bell was arrested in respect of an incident alleged to have taken place in a restaurant approximately 1.1 kilometres (0.7 miles) miles from the hotel in Epping town centre. A 38 year old male was alleged to have sat next to a schoolgirl and her friends, made sexual comments, touched her thigh and attempted to kiss her. The same individual was reported to have behaved inappropriately towards three or four other victims. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in a sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.

Ms Maginnis gave evidence that the Claimant became aware of social media reporting of that alleged assault. It was considered that the Claimant needed to make a public response, in liaison with Essex Police so as to avoid compromising their criminal investigation and inflaming community tensions. On 9 July 2025 the Leader of the Claimant, Councillor Chris Whitbread made the following public statement –

“The events that took place in Epping on Tuesday are both deeply disturbing and extremely concerning. I want to thank Essex Police for their rapid and effective response, and I commend the local residents whose quick thinking helped ensure the swift arrest of the suspect. Let me be absolutely clear. Epping Forest District Council has consistently and repeatedly opposed the use of the Bell Hotel to accommodate asylum seekers. From the outset, we warned the Home Office that this site is entirely inappropriate. Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable. It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel. The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation. The Bell Hotel must be closed without delay. Our warnings have been ignored for too long. Epping is a strong, compassionate and united community. While police have confirmed there is no ongoing threat, residents should be reassured that additional police patrols and active monitoring of the High Street and nearby areas are already in place to ensure public safety. I urge everyone to rely solely on official updates from the police and the council. Avoid speculation or misinformation being spread on social media or elsewhere. We will remain calm and united, and we will work to ensure Epping remains a safe place for everyone”.

On 10 July 2025, Mr Whitbread wrote to the Home Secretary in similar terms –

“Epping Forest District Council has consistently and repeatedly opposed the use of the Bell and Phoenix hotels to accommodate asylum seekers. From the outset, we warned the Home Office that these sites are entirely inappropriate. Placing vulnerable individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds into an unsupervised setting, in the centre of a small town, without the proper infrastructure, support or services, is both reckless and unacceptable. It puts pressure on local services, causes understandable concern for residents, and is unfair on those placed in the hotel.

Events in other parts of the Country have taught us that we ignore such warnings at our peril. Failure to act plays directly into the hands of extremists. Utilising social media, they have become adept at twisting the legitimate concerns of local people to their own advantage. The failure of the Home Office to address the issue of asylum seeker hotels only makes the situation worse.

The Home Office must now face the reality of the situation. Our warnings have been ignored for too long. The Bell Hotel must be closed without delay”.

Following the incident on 8 July 2025, public protests began to take place outside the Bell. The first protest was held on 11 July. It was conducted by local residents, urging that the Bell hotel should no longer be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Thereafter the protests grew in size and scale, as the issue concerning the use of the Bell hotel to accommodate asylum seekers gained national prominence, and the number of protesters increased as people travelled into Epping to join the protests. There were marches on Epping High Street and counter protests. Parts of the High Street were closed for periods of the day during those protests.

From 13 July 2025 onwards there were violent and disorderly incidents connected with the protests –

Ms Thompson’s evidence was that as of 3 August 2025, the police had reported that 25 people had been arrested in connection with offences at the protests held outside the Bell between 13 July and 24 July. 16 people had been charged with offences.

In response to these violent protests, in mid-July 2025 and on the advice of Essex Police the Defendant caused metal security fencing to be installed along the road frontage outside the Bell. The Defendant also caused further metal security fencing to be installed around the various buildings on the site to guard against violent intruders gaining access to those buildings from the open fields to the rear of the Bell.

As a result of the violence and disorderly behaviour experienced during these protests outside the Bell, Essex Police put in place a number of measures in order to keep them under control and reduce disruption to the wider community. These measures included restrictions under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 namely that: (1) any public assembly in the vicinity of the Bell Hotel must take place on the south side of the B1393 High Road Epping opposite the hotel and behind an area marked off by metal fencing; and (2) all protest activity must cease at 8:30pm.The police have also put in place dispersal orders, giving police officers the power to remove from the area anyone carrying out or believed to be carrying out anti-social behaviour, as well as orders banning face coverings.

On 17 July 2025, following internal discussions between officers including Mr Stubbs, Ms Thompson and Ms Wiggins, and the Leader of the Council, the Claimant’s Director of Planning circulated the following statement for intended publication to clarify the planning position in respect of the Bell –

“A planning application (Ref EPF/0337/23) was submitted on 14 February 2023. This sought a temporary planning permission for the change of use of the hotel to a hostel for asylum seeker. The application was subsequently withdrawn.

When the premises resumed use under the contract from the Home Office in early 2025, the Council again requested that a planning application be submitted for the change of use that has occurred. On this occasion the operators of the premises declined to do so under advice from central government, which considers the premises to have been contracted continued use as a hotel for which planning permission is not required. We are seeking advice on the Government’s assertion.

Whilst the Council acknowledges this direction from government, we continue to oppose the use of the Bell Hotel to accommodate asylum seekers, with this location considered to be inappropriate”.

On 24 July 2025 there was a meeting of the Claimant’s full Council. On the agenda for that meeting was a notice of motion proposed by Councillor Holly Whitbread and seconded by the Leader, Councillor Chris Whitbread, in the following terms –

“MOTION: Epping Forest District Council Calls on the Government to Immediately and Permanently Close the Bell Hotel in Epping

This Council expresses its deep concern and firm opposition to the continued use of hotels in Epping Forest District to house asylum seekers and calls on the Government to close the Bell Hotel immediately and permanently.

The Bell Hotel in Epping and the Phoenix Hotel in Bobbingworth are currently used by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers. The Bell Hotel houses all-male asylum seekers. These two hotels are a few miles apart and have been at the centre of serious incidents recently, including:

• The arrest and charging of an individual for the sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Epping town centre.

• The arrest of another individual for arson, who is believed to have moved between the two hotels.

These incidents have caused significant anger and distress among local residents and attracted national media attention.

The Council:

• Expresses sympathy and support for all the victims of these incidents and subsequent violence in Epping.

• Thanks the police for responding to recent incidents and notes that this has diverted resources from normal policing activities.

• Condemns the behaviour of those who have travelled to Epping to seek confrontation and violence and calls on all to express opinions peacefully and within the law.

Epping Forest District Council has consistently opposed the use of these hotels for asylum accommodation, citing their unsuitability.

The Council reaffirms that placing vulnerable individuals in small towns and rural areas without appropriate supervision, infrastructure or support services is irresponsible. It strains local services and creates anxiety in the community.

Furthermore, the Council expresses concern that:

• There is no transparency over who is housed in the hotels. The Council is particularly concerned that the Bell Hotel houses an all-male population.

• The Government’s failure to act quickly to close the Bell Hotel may have endangered public safety.

• Community tensions are rising, exacerbated by extremist political groups.

The Bell Hotel has become an untenable location for both the safety of the Epping community and the asylum seekers placed there and must be closed immediately.

The Council also recognises that the Phoenix Hotel is currently housing families and has a duty to ensure the safe and supported transition of these vulnerable individuals, especially in light of the recent fire at the property.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.

Call for the immediate and permanent closure of the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation.

2.

Call for the managed closure of the Phoenix Hotel, ensuring the safe transition of families, with due regard to safeguarding responsibilities.

3.

Urge the Home Office and relevant Government Ministers to:

o Cease the use of unsuitable hotels in small towns and rural areas for asylum accommodation.

o Properly consult with local authorities before placing individuals in their area.

o Take urgent action to prevent further risks to public safety and rising community tensions.

4.

Write formally to the Home Secretary, on behalf of full council, to set out the Council’s position and demand immediate action.

5.

Encourage local residents and Councillors to responsibly express their objections in a democratic, constructive, and peaceful way, including by signing the petition launched by the Leader of the Council and writing to their Member of Parliament”.

The motion was carried unanimously. On 25 July 2025, the Leader of the Council wrote to the Home Secretary –

“I wrote to you on 10 July 2025 requesting the immediate closure of two local hotels used by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers in Epping Forest. I have yet to receive a formal response to this letter.

Since then, you will be aware of the multiple demonstrations that have taken place in Epping by concerned but peaceful residents and the completely unacceptable violence that has accompanied this, in part, perpetrated and engineered by groups on the political extremes.

We forewarned of the potential unrest that might follow anything other than immediate action, and I deeply regret that this has been proven true.

Last night, in exceptional circumstances and amidst a large protest outside, the Full Council of Epping Forest District Council unanimously agreed that I should write to you again, demanding the following:

1.

The immediate and permanent closure of the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation.

2.

The managed closure of the Phoenix Hotel, [Bobbingworth], ensuring the safe transition of families, with due regard to safeguarding responsibilities.

3.

Home Office and relevant Government Ministers to:

•

Cease the use of unsuitable hotels in small towns and rural areas for asylum accommodation.

•

Properly consult with local authorities before placing individuals in their area.

•

Take urgent action to prevent further risks to public safety and rising community tensions.

The Town of Epping feels besieged right now and the Government’s promises to close all Hotels by the end of the Parliament does nothing the to address their legitimate concerns.

We have consistently called for the closure of these facilities on the grounds they are unsuitable for the occupants’ needs, and we now add the issue of their safety and the safety concerns of our residents as reasons for closure.

The residents of Epping are both moderate, inclusive and tolerant, but deeply concerned following events in the Town and confidence cannot be rebuilt and tension eased until the Bell Hotel is closed.

On behalf of our residents and in the strongest possible terms, we urge you to hear the united voice of Epping Forest District Council and take immediate action to close the Bell Hotel, Epping followed by the managed closure of the Phoenix Hotel”.