What began as another night of protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping ended dramatically when the organiser of the demonstrations was arrested after climbing onto the local council building and unfurling a Union flag.
The arrest has now intensified the row between protesters, police, and the Government over the continued use of local hotels to house asylum seekers.
The Arrest at the Civic Centre
Footage from Sunday evening showed the woman holding the flag above the entrance to Epping District Council’s Civic Centre at around 7:15pm.
Moments later, police officers moved in, seizing her and taking her away in a van as fellow demonstrators erupted in anger.
Some initially claimed she had been detained simply for flying the Union flag, but Essex Police quickly pushed back, clarifying that her arrest was linked to breaching a Section 14 order—a legal tool police can use to restrict where protests can take place.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper stressed she was not arrested for patriotic display, but for demonstrating in a restricted zone.
Three Arrests in One Night
Police confirmed that three people were arrested during the demonstration.
In addition to the organiser, one man was arrested for allegedly inciting racial hatred after reports that an emblem had been set alight.
Another man was detained for refusing to leave after the protest had officially ended, also breaching the Section 14 order. All three remain in custody.
Growing Frustration Over the Bell Hotel
The Bell Hotel has become the focal point of anger in recent weeks.
Locals began protesting after a migrant resident was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl—a charge he denies.
The case has fuelled tensions in the community, leading to ongoing demonstrations outside the hotel.
Epping Council initially won a High Court injunction to block the Home Office from sending more migrants to the site, sparking a wave of similar legal bids from councils across the country.
But just last week, three High Court judges overturned the injunction, confirming that 138 asylum seekers will remain housed at the Bell Hotel.
Calls to Withhold Council Tax
In the wake of the ruling, some protesters have gone further, threatening to stop paying their council tax altogether—even if it means going to prison.
Parents say they fear for their children’s safety as schools reopen, while others argue their tax money is being used to fund a hotel that has become a symbol of division.
One local resident summed up the mood: “Girls are being followed.
It goes against everything council tax should be used for. I’m willing to go to jail for this.”
Local Leaders Respond
While many residents are furious, local Tory councillor Holly Whitbread urged people not to take drastic action.
She reminded protesters that council tax funds essential services such as waste collection and community support.
Whitbread emphasised that the council itself opposes the use of the Bell Hotel and is continuing to push the Government to find an alternative solution.
Voices From Inside the Hotel
Not everyone shares the protesters’ outrage. Migrants staying at the Bell Hotel expressed relief after the Court of Appeal’s decision.
Khadar Mohamed, a 24-year-old from Somalia, said he was grateful to Keir Starmer’s government for the ruling, explaining that residents had been “living in fear” due to hostility from locals.
The Standoff Continues
As the Government stands by its decision and residents vow to continue their demonstrations, the Bell Hotel remains at the heart of a national debate over migration, community safety, and the limits of local authority power.
With tempers running high and trust between locals and officials wearing thin, the coming weeks in Epping are set to be just as turbulent as the last.
