Police officers ahead of a demonstration outside the former Bell Hotel in Epping, July 27, 2025ASYLUM-SEEKERS are to be removed from a hotel in Essex after the High Court today granted a “terrible concession” to racist protests organised by the far right.
Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction blocking migrants from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping after arguing that owner Somani Hotels Limited was in breach of planning rules.
The court heard that the site has been the centre of a series of protests in recent weeks after an asylum-seeker who was staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Mr Justice Eyre said that while the council had not “definitively established” that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules, “the strength of the claimant’s case is such that it weighs in favour” of granting the injunction.
His judgment added that the “risk of injustice is greater” if a temporary injunction was not granted.
Stand Up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “This is a terrible concession to racist protests organised by fascists. It will embolden the far right and encourage yet more protests to close down more hotels housing refugees.
“People have the right to seek asylum. Britain takes a minority of the world’s refugees and those that come here must be able to live in peace and not be threatened with racist violence.”
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Robert Jenrick pictured with former Nazi terror chief at Epping anti-refugee protest