Three arrests in Epping ahead of more protests, as reports say 13 councils will continue legal action to shut asylum hotels

Three men have been arrested in Essex after violence erupted at the latest protest over housing asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Essex Police said three men were arrested on Friday on suspicion of violent disorder, assaulting a police officer and drink driving respectively.

The protest coincided with the result of a legal challenge by the government, which successfully overturned a temporary injunction which would have blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the hotel.

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Despite the Court of Appeal decision, at least 13 other councils are considering pressing ahead with legal action over the use of asylum hotels in their areas, according to The Times.

They include at least four Labour-run authorities, such as Wirral, Stevenage, Tamworth and Rushmoor councils.

Meanwhile, protests and counter-protests are planned across several towns and cities on Saturday, including Braintree, Luton, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Stockport and Barry, among others.

In a Facebook post, the Devon and Cornwall Anti-Fascist Network said a counter-protest was scheduled to take place in Exeter to oppose anti-asylum demonstrations.

"We must outnumber them, control the streets, demoralise them. And defend refugees against their racist hate," the post said.

Another Facebook message by Stand Up To Racism (North East) called for supporters to rally in Newcastle against what they called "far-right and fascist thugs".

"We need to be there to show them their hatred is not welcome," the post read.

In contrast, Sky News has spoken to protesters who share a sense of anger about the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels and feel they are ignored by the government. They strongly reject being identified as "fascists" or "far-right thugs".

Warnings have been issued by some forces ahead of the demonstrations.

Deb Smith, assistant chief constable of Wiltshire Police, said they had a "proportionate policing operation in place" ahead of a planned protest in Swindon.

"We will always facilitate lawful protest - but we will not tolerate criminal behaviour," she said in a statement.

Judgment was 'seriously flawed'

On Friday, three judges at the Court of Appeal described the High Court's interim injunction as "seriously flawed in principle" and said the hotel could continue to be used to house migrants.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged Tory councillors seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels to "keep going" despite the ruling.

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"Local communities should not pay the price for Labour's total failure on illegal immigration," Mrs Badenoch said.

"Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also criticised the ruling, claiming that "illegal migrants have more rights than the British people under (Keir) Starmer".

Epping: Legal 'battle is not over'

Epping Forest District Councillor Ken Williamson said he was deeply "disappointed by the outcome" but insisted the "battle is not over", suggesting their legal challenge could continue at the Supreme Court.

There have been weeks of protests in Essex after an asylum seeker housed at the Bell Hotel was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl. He denies the allegations.

Essex Police put in place two dispersal orders to ensure protesters left the area on Friday, as well as an order to prevent demonstrators from concealing their faces.

Another dispersal order was subsequently imposed, which extended into Saturday morning.

Reacting to the ruling, Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government was committed to closing all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.

But she added that it appealed against the High Court ruling so that hotel use can be ended in a "controlled and orderly way".

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