Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: “I want to thank those who are attending today and protesting peacefully.

“We have used powers at our disposal to ensure people can protest peacefully, lawfully, and safely.

“And our officers are in place to ensure you can do so.

“We won’t tolerate anyone thinking they can come and cause trouble or breach the orders we’ve put in place to keep people safe. My message is clear – we will deal with you.”

Last Thursday’s protest 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.

Six people have been charged in relation to the action but this evening however, has been much more peaceful.

One protester with a microphone could be heard saying “we’ll be here Sunday” after thanking “everyone for keeping it peaceful”.

Protesters have marched close to the Bell Hotel this evening in a demonstration that has been described by police as “peaceful.”

One arrest has been made as protesters gather outside a hotel in Essex believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Dozens were outside The Bell Hotel, Epping, on Thursday evening, and shortly after 7.30pm police said the protest had “so far been peaceful”.

A person was arrested for breaching an order in place that prevents anyone from wearing a face covering, Essex Police said.

Epping Forest Council held a meeting to discuss a motion calling on the Government to immediately and permanently close the Bell Hotel, which, along with the Phoenix Hotel, has been used to house asylum seekers.

The council expressed deep concern and firm opposition to the continued use of these hotels, citing several serious incidents including an alleged sexual assault by a resident of the Bell Hotel and an arson-related arrest involving both hotels, with both individuals currently awaiting trial.

The motion was unanimously passed by councillors, though they acknowledged the challenge of convincing the Home Office to end the use of the hotel.

Council leader Chris Whitbread praised the community’s passion and commitment to lobbying the government, while other councillors emphasized the town’s caring spirit and condemned what they see as the government’s disregard for local concerns.

Following the meeting, protesters left the council chambers and returned to the hotel as the rain eased.

Essex Police have confirmed the arrest of one individual during this evening’s protest in Epping. The person was taken into custody on suspicion of breaching a Section 60AA order, which allows officers to prevent people from concealing their identities.

In a statement about the protest, Essex Police said: “Our officers are facilitating a peaceful protest in Epping this evening. A group of people gathered outside The Bell Hotel, with part of that group protesting against the hotel and wishing to move to the town centre.

Officers escorted them there to ensure they could express their democratic right safely. One person has been arrested for breaching the Section 60AA order, which prevents anyone from wearing a face covering.”

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow added: “I want to thank those who are attending today and protesting peacefully. We have used powers at our disposal to ensure people can protest peacefully, lawfully, and safely. And our officers are in place to ensure you can do so.

“We won’t tolerate anyone thinking they can come and cause trouble or breach the orders we’ve put in place to keep people safe. My message is clear, we will deal with you.”

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, this afternoon in the latest demonstration over the use of the site to house asylum seekers.

Several in the crowd were seen draped in English and Union flags, standing behind fencing recently installed outside the hotel. A large billboard displayed behind them featured English flags alongside the slogan “Protect Our Kids.”

Earlier in the day, the group marched through Epping’s high street before assembling outside Epping Forest District Council, where a meeting was taking place on the future of the Bell and Phoenix hotels. They were later escorted back to the hotel by a significant number of Essex Police officers.

Police confirmed that one person was arrested at the scene for wearing a face covering, an offence under public order restrictions.

The protest follows a similar demonstration last week, which ended in unrest and resulted in 16 arrests.

A heavy police presence has been deployed as a precaution, despite only a handful of protesters, fewer than five, gathering at the scene.

Protesters have gathered outside the civic offices as a meeting on the future of the Bell Hotel gets underway.

Tensions are running high in Epping, Essex, as protesters continue to rally against the use of two local hotels to house asylum seekers, following the arrest of a guest at The Bell Hotel accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

The incident sparked a wave of unrest, with recent demonstrations turning violent and prompting police to issue a dispersal order.

Riot officers and metal fencing have now been deployed at The Bell as protesters plan a march to Epping Forest District Council, where officials are debating a motion to permanently shut down both The Bell and Phoenix hotels, decisions that were reportedly under consideration before the recent flare-ups.

Police dogs have been deployed to Epping in case violence breaks out at a demonstration tonight.

Other precautions taken by police include fencing, tactical support groups and a heavy presence of officers in the vicinity of the asyium hotel.

Alongside the heavy police presence in Canary Wharf, an even larger presence has been seen in the area surrounding an asylum hotel in Epping.

Footage from the scene shows more than a dozen police vans making their way to the hotel in Essex which is expected to be the site of another protest this evening.

After two days of protests, the hotel is currently quiet with just a handful of people outside.

That said, police appear to be taking no chances with several vans, cars and officers patrolling on foot present.

Nigel Farage is wrong. The Reform UK leader, who no doubt many of our readers understandably hold up as the last hope for saving Britain, is trying to politically exploit last week’s riots in Epping. In itself, that’s no issue; party leaders will make political capital out of whatever they can. To pretend otherwise is naive. This was a highly politicised episode and Mr Farage is a politician. He should be free to pass judgment on it.

What should be a source of shame for Mr Farage is not his attempt to cash-in on the Epping riots, but rather that he’s got his facts wrong. Badly.

READ MORE HERE

Protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers have taken place across the country over the last few weeks – but do you think they should all be shut?

Pictures from outside the Britannia International Hotel show metal fencing erected as police prepare for the possibility of more unrest.

Anger has erupted over reports that asylum seekers are using taxpayers’ money to pay for gambling. The Home Office has launched an investigation after more than 6,500 transactions were attempted online and at sites such as casinos, slot machine arcades and National Lottery retailers in the past year, according to a Freedom of Information request made by PoliticsHome.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This Labour Government is allowing illegal migrants to gamble using taxpayers’ hard-earned cash. This madness has to end.” He added: “Illegal immigrants living in asylum hotels have used taxpayer-funded payment cards to attempt to gamble six and a half thousand times. This is my money, your money, taxpayers’ money.”

Good afternoon, welcome to our live coverage of the ongoing situation outside the Britannia Hotel in east London.