Police blast ‘hooligans’ for £100,000 cost of Epping migrant hotel disorder

Police have hit out at spending £100,000 to tackle ‘hooligans’ hijacking protests over the Epping migrant hotel.

Disorder over the past week has seen police vans and an undercover car smashed as hundreds of protesters took over the small Essex town.

Chf Supt Simon Anslow said: ‘The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.’

Neighbours of an Epping migrant hotel shouted ‘Go home’ to protesters hurling rocks and flares at police which resulted in the

One local shouted out of his window at the mob ‘Some of us have work in the morning’ during another night of unrest in the Essex town on Sunday.

The frustration came as hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Bell Hotel in Epping chanting ‘send them home’ as missiles were thrown towards police vans blocking their path.

An officer from Norfolk was struck in the face by a bottle and taken to hospital.

Chf Supt Anslow added: ‘What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it’s hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable.

‘To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won’t win.

‘The very people you are criticising are police officers who have families, who live in our communities and want to keep them safe.

‘These are the same people who have been antagonised with threatening and abusive language, they’ve had missiles thrown at them and they’ve been injured.

‘Once again, to anyone who somehow thinks we will tolerate this behaviour – think again.’

Neighbours of an Epping migrant hotel shouted ‘Go home’ to protesters hurling rocks and flares at police.

One local shouted out of his window at the mob ‘Some of us have work in the morning’ during another night of unrest in the Essex town on Sunday.

The frustration came as hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Bell Hotel in Epping chanting ‘send them home’ as missiles were thrown towards police vans blocking their path.

One Stand Up To Racism counterprotester had objects thrown at her and had to be escorted away by police.

A police car had its front windscreen smashed as more disorder flared.

Essex Police said five people were arrested outside the hotel, one after a police helicopter chase.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘Four individuals who arrived at the scene this evening were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with offences alleged to have happened during last Thursday’s protest, which later turned violent.

‘The fifth was swiftly arrested thanks to the support of our police helicopter after one of our unmarked vehicles was damaged this evening.’

They added: ‘There were angry and violent scenes when a woman walked through the crowds. Missiles were thrown at her and a number of individuals were shouting abuse and trying to reach the woman.

‘Our officers walked alongside her until she left the scene in order to keep everyone on all sides safe and ensure no-one was hurt.’

It marks another night of confrontations, as police hunt three men in connection with violent disorder outside the hotel in recent days.

Officers released images of the suspects as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the site, which is believed to be housing asylum seekers.

A small number of protesters are wearing balaclavas and face coverings against police orders.

Chief Supt Simon Anslow said: ‘Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle.

‘For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery – think again.

‘Individuals who thought that after last Thursday, turned up this evening only to find themselves getting arrested and we have continued to arrest others throughout the evening.’

He added: ‘I would also like to set the record straight around misinformation that Essex Police is anything other than impartial.

‘We don’t take sides, we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt – plain and simple. I know the people of Essex know what we’re about so I know they won’t believe the rubbish circulating online that is designed to do nothing more than inflame tensions and trouble.

‘I think I speak for all of us – including the people of Epping – when I say we’ve had enough of your criminality.

‘But our cells, which have been filling up throughout the evening, are ready for you, so don’t be in any doubt that this is where you will be sleeping.’

Essex Police said that a group intent on causing trouble and violence, arrived on the high street.

One man was seen jumping on a riot van and kicking in the windscreen.

The group damaged a number of police vehicles, threw projectiles and injured eight police officers, according to the force.

One Metropolitan police van sped through an improvised blockade on Epping High Street ‘making contact’ with a protester who appeared to fail to move out of the way.

Staff at the hotel told Metro on Thursday that the car park was a no-go zone after the riot as they feared the protesters would return in force.

One, who looked visibly shaken, said: ‘Everyone is ok but no one is allowed in the car park. The police say so.’

A nearby resident, 48, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I was sickened by what I saw. This is not acceptable. We have families and having these thugs shouting and chucking stuff is disgusting.’

Another said: ‘It’s not ideal living right near a migrant hotel but what is worse is these rioters causing mayhem. There is rubbish everywhere from stuff they have chucked and they sort of lay siege to the hotel which must be terrifying for those inside.’