For three months, the quiet Essex town of Epping has found itself at the heart of a storm. Outside The Bell Hotel, now housing about 150 asylum seekers, anti-migrant protests have become a twice-weekly ritual, drawing crowds, counter-protesters, and a heavy police presence. What began as a local response to a high-profile criminal case has spiraled into a costly and contentious standoff, exposing deep divisions in the community and raising tough questions about public order, policing, and the cost—both literal and societal—of unrest.
The catalyst for these demonstrations was the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national who arrived in the UK by small boat in July 2025. Within days, Kebatu was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping. His conviction and sentencing to 12 months in prison at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on September 23, 2025, only intensified emotions on all sides. According to BBC News, Kebatu was staying at The Bell Hotel at the time of the offences, and his case quickly became a flashpoint for broader anxieties about migration and community safety.
Since mid-July, the protests outside The Bell have drawn thousands, sometimes swelling to more than 150 demonstrators at a time, reports ITV News. The gatherings have often featured flags, placards with anti-migrant slogans, and, at times, heated exchanges with police. For Essex Police, the challenge has been immense. As of late September, the cost of policing these protests has reached £1.6 million, with estimates projecting the bill could climb to £1.7 million by the end of October 2025, according to statements by Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst at a recent crime panel meeting.
“The reality is, of course, that policing the events of the summer—not just Epping but principally Epping in terms of demonstrations and protests—has involved a substantial level of police overtime and mutual support from neighbouring forces,” Hirst told the panel on September 25. “I think some even came from Wales to support it, and that has meant that we have been able to continue to do the policing of the county as we need to do.”
With every protest, the strain on resources has grown. Police officers have faced not only long hours and logistical challenges, but also a barrage of abuse. “I personally have been told by protesters that they hope my children get raped because I’m here protecting the Bell Hotel,” one senior officer confided to ITV News. “The misogyny against the female officers has been especially nasty.”
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper called such vilification “totally unacceptable.” He emphasized the force’s commitment to impartiality: “My officers are here to do a job to protect our communities, they're part of our community and they'll be out there today and it's just not right.” Hooper acknowledged the difficulty of holding the center ground in a politically charged environment, adding, “We're here to police without fear or favour and to make sure that people can go about their democratic right...to peacefully protest. And it's that fine line that we're trying to kind of balance on a daily basis and make sure that we can protect everyone in our communities.”
Yet, the police’s efforts to maintain order have not satisfied all parties. Protesters have accused the force of bias, pointing to restrictions such as bans on face coverings, sound amplification, and the requirement to remain within a fenced area opposite the hotel. These measures, introduced in a policing plan issued on September 25, were designed to limit disruption and safeguard both residents and demonstrators. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow explained to BBC News, “We remain committed to facilitating peaceful protest and will continue to engage with organisers and participants to ensure that everyone understands the conditions and the reasons behind the restrictions.” Anslow stressed the need to balance competing rights: “The right to protest has to be balanced with the rights of others to live in peace and feel safe in their homes.”
The impact on Epping’s community has been profound. Local residents and businesses have reported sleepless nights and lost revenue due to the ongoing demonstrations. According to BBC News, some have described a “toxic atmosphere” in the town, with counter-protesters and campaigners like Paul, a London-born resident, voicing fears that old patterns of racism are resurfacing. “Instead of picking on black people, or Indian, they’re just picking on a new group…and that’s migrants,” Paul told ITV News, expressing concern for his daughter’s future in Epping.
Meanwhile, the protests themselves have not always remained peaceful. On July 17, fireworks were set off and eggs thrown, resulting in injuries to eight officers, as reported by BBC News. In total, Essex Police have arrested 32 people in connection with disorder outside The Bell Hotel. Seven men, aged 23 to 52 and from various nearby towns, now face trial next year for violent disorder, according to The Guardian.
Politically, the protests have become a rallying point for some, with campaign organiser Orla Minihane, also vice-chair of the local Reform Party branch, insisting to ITV News, “Online abuse you can’t take seriously. We’re all keyboard warriors. But in person, there is nothing that anyone here has done to intimidate anyone.” Others, however, see the gatherings as a source of fear and division, with counter-protesters reporting online abuse and reluctance to speak publicly.
For Essex Police, the financial burden is acute. Commissioner Hirst made clear that the force must absorb the cost unless it exceeds £4 million, the threshold for government support. “We don’t get a special grant from the central government unless we reach just over £4 million additional expenditure, which we are hopefully not going to do,” he said. “It’s a classic public service conundrum, isn’t it really? You have the need. You have the requirement right now. You have to do it. That’s the job. And sometimes you report a deficit and overspend.”
Legal battles over the use of The Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation continue to play out in the courts. Epping Forest District Council won a temporary injunction in August to block the hotel from housing asylum seekers, but the Court of Appeal later overturned it. The full legal challenge is set to return to the High Court on October 15, 2025, according to BBC News.
As autumn arrives, there’s little sign of resolution. The protests show no signs of abating, the police bill keeps climbing, and Epping remains a microcosm of the national debate over migration, security, and the right to protest. For now, residents, officers, and demonstrators alike are left to navigate the uneasy balance between safety, free expression, and community cohesion—each counting the cost in their own way.
