POLICE arrested a suspect in a home raid after disorder broke out over taxpayer-funded asylum seeker hotels.
Essex Policereleased bodycam footage of the arrest, as they demanded the man put his hands up before handcuffing him in his living room.
This is the dramatic moment police arrested a suspect as disorder breaks out over taxpayer-funded asylum seeker hotels
Footage shows the arrest of a suspect after disorder in Epping
New warning signs have been placed on a post outside The Bell hotel, today in Epping
A police officer watches over new barriers that are being erected near The Bell hotel today in EppingDetectives searched his home for clothing the man in his 20s allegedly wore on a day of disorder.
The protest, outside the Bell Hotel in , began peacefully but escalated into what officers described as “scattered incidents of violence” targeting police and property.
Eight officers were injured and a number of police vehicles were damaged as missiles were thrown.
The arrest took place at 5.45pm yesterday in Harlow, and he is being questioned in suspect.
In the video, a cop can be heard saying: “Hello mate, you all right? Put your hands up for me. You are going to be arrested, you are under arrest for section two violent disorder for an offence that occurred on July 17.
“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
“The reason for your arrest is so we can interview you about it and also do post arrest searches.
“We will be searching for items of clothing you were wearing on the day. Understand?”
Cops have now made 16 arrests for offences including violent disorder and criminal damage, and six people have been charged.
Kenneth Blissett, 34, of Harlow, was charged with theft of police equipment and possession of an offensive weapon.
He is on bail and is due to appear at Magistrates’ Court on September.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “We’d promised that we’d continue our investigations into the unacceptable actions of a small number of people who chose to take advantage of peaceful protest to try to cause harm to people in Epping or to property.
“We’ve been analysing footage and we have investigators and trained detectives working on this operation.
“We are identifying suspects and there will be more arrests in the coming days.
“Put simply: If you turn up to try to cause trouble, you won’t get away with it.”
Detectives searched his home for clothing the man in his 20s allegedly wore on a day of disorder in Epping
Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf is set to house migrantsESSEX POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY
It comes after the Chief Constable of Essex Police refused to resign after footage showed officers escorting pro-migrant activists to an asylum seeker hotel.
had initially denied it brought demonstrators from Stand Up toto the Bell Hotel in Epping beforelast Sunday (July 17).
The force changed its tune after being shown footage of the activists apparently being led by officers from a station to outside the hotel while holding placards.
However, while accepting it provided a “foot cordon”, the force has denied claims today it specifically “bussed” the counter-protesters to the hotel.
Essex Police are continuing to face heavy scrutiny over its handling of the protests.
A spokesperson for the force added: “Misinformation has circulated online suggesting we “bussed in” counter protestors during a recent protest in Epping on Thursday 17 July.
“This is categorically untrue.
“Groups of protestors and counter-protestors â each of which have a legal right to peacefully protest in a public location â attempted to travel to the Bell Hotel on foot, to demonstrate outside the site.
“This is their right and it is not for the police to prevent any one group from doing so, if they are doing so lawfully and peacefully.
“However, officers were aware of a need to keep the groups separate and to keep the peace.
“Therefore, officers ensured they maintained a presence around each group. This also took place on foot.
“This effectively constituted a walking cordon around a group of counter protestors as they walked through
Epping in the direction of the protest.
“No counter protestors were brought to the scene via police transport.”
A police cordon is placed outside the Britannia Hotel
A man was run over by a police riot van as chaos broke out
Police seen escorting pro-migrant protesters to a hotel before violence eruptedPREPARATIONS IN CANARY WHARF
It comes as the near 500-room Britannia Hotel in‘s Canary Wharf is currently preparing for migrants to arrive.
Photos today show newin the heart of the capital’s swanky docklands, and where rooms can typically cost up to £469 a night.
A spokesman for Tower Hamlets council said: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
“It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel.
“We are working with the and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”
The Home Office has reserved more than 400 beds at the Britannia International Hotel, agreeing a deal for £81 per night for each migrant who stays there.
It has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there.
The Home Office reserves beds in empty hotel rooms in case of a surge in crossings over the summer period.
Home Office sources revealed to The Sun that the average cost per night for a hotel room for a migrant is now £118.87, down from £162.16 in March 2023.
Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the taxpayer £5.77million a day.
According to websites such as Booking.com, the hotel is not taking reservations.
Police were seen guarding outside last night as protesters gathered.
The hotel sits on the waterfront of the South Dock.
The Britannia Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf prepares for migrants to arrive
The Britannia Hotel is due to welcome migrantsEPPING PROTESTS
Chaos was sparked outside the hotel in Epping last week after an asylum seeker appeared incharged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The unrest saw, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of “hooliganism”.
One thug was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel.
Another manafter riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash.
leadersaid “heads will roll” over the escort, which he alleged was done to “force a confrontation”.
The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who was arrested and later charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault.
He appeared atColchesterMagistrates’Courton Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges.
His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes.
Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000.
There are about 210 hotels under contracts with theHome Officeto house migrants.
A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrates’ already this year.
Sir released a statement in response to the growing tensions.
“Well, I think it’s obviously important that communities know that we are working to reduce the number of asylum hotels,” said the PM’s spokesperson.
“That is a clear government policy. But it’s also important that
legitimate protest doesn’t cross over into something else, and we would always hope that communities would respect that.
“But we are, and I think the Prime Minister is on record as saying, about the need to cut migration, both lawfully and illegal migration, and that is something that you’re seeing in working on tirelessly over the last year, whether it be the agreement with the French last week or the agreement with the German government yesterday, that is a priority for this government.
“It is something that requires international solutions, and that is why you’re seeing this flurry of activity from this government to tackle these gangs from every possible angle.”
