Epping asylum protests must be brought under control, council leader warns

A council leader has called for control over protests outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers, describing it as a "powder keg" situation.

Epping Forest District Council's Conservative leader Chris Whitbread was speaking after more than 1,000 people gathered outside The Bell Hotel in the town in separate protests over two nights last week.

Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, had said he would attend a further planned protest at the hotel.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight's Victoria Derbyshire, Whitbread said: "My concerns are for next week, or this week, if Tommy Robinson turns up... We really have got to get this back under control."

The protests followed the arrest and charge of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town.

Whitbread repeated calls for the hotel to stop housing asylum seekers following the incident.

Six people have been arrested following the latest protest with one man accused of violent disorder.

Whitbread said there were concerns about the location which is near a school and the town centre.

"Fair-minded people within the local community, initially protesting peacefully, want the hotel closed," he said.

"I have to say, as the leader of the council, that's always been my position and the council's position. This is just not a suitable location. The sooner it's dealt with, the better."

He said he sympathised with the "vulnerable" asylum seekers at the hotel but stressed locations which had "less impact on established communities" needed to be found by the Home Office.

"It's a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen," he added.

Asked if he had a message for Mr Yaxley-Lennon and his supporters, Mr Whitbread said: "Keep away, [you're] not welcome here in Epping Forest.

"What we want to do is make sure our town stays peaceful and people can enjoy their lives here. That's the most important message to get through."

Mr Yaxley-Lennon has been contacted for comment.

Downing Street previously said the scenes at Epping were "clearly unacceptable".

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy but it's clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack as they ensure that peaceful protest is able to take place."

A Home Office spokeswoman had told the BBC the asylum system was under "unprecedented strain".

"That was the situation the government inherited, but we have begun to restore order," she said.

Essex Police said it was disappointed to see the protest escalate into "mindless thuggery" after one officer was struck in the face with a bottle and taken to hospital for treatment.