Epping, August 30(HS): Tensions flared outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday as three men were arrested during protests sparked by the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn a temporary injunction barring asylum seekers from staying at the site. The arrests were made on charges including violent disorder, assault on a police officer, and drink driving, with two officers sustaining minor injuries.

The court ruling allows 138 asylum seekers to remain in the hotel until at least September 12, reversing an injunction previously secured by Epping Forest District Council. While the council has not ruled out escalating the case to the Supreme Court, the decision has deeply divided local opinion, with protests ongoing since July.

Residents expressed mixed reactions—some voicing concern over safety and community division, while others emphasized empathy and the need to avoid hostility toward asylum seekers. Local groups like Epping for Everyone seek to challenge negative narratives, urging peaceful dialogue amid mounting tensions.

The council’s legal challenge represents a clash between Conservative-run local authorities and the Labour government’s immigration policies. A full hearing on a permanent injunction is slated for mid-October as authorities implement dispersal orders to maintain order in the area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar