Hundreds of demonstrators from opposing sides marched through the town of Epping in northeast England on Sunday, as tensions flared once more in the wake of protests linked to immigration and asylum policy. The latest protest follows an incident earlier this month in which an asylum seeker was charged with three counts of sexual assault, including the alleged attempted kissing of a 14-year-old girl.
While previous protests had seen significant turnouts, only around 400 people took part in Sunday’s demonstrations. Police implemented a strict security operation, deploying officers in large numbers, erecting barriers to separate rival groups, and banning the wearing of face coverings.
Essex Police said they had “a robust policing operation in place to protect our community and to deal swiftly with anyone intent on causing crime or violent disorder”. Officers made three arrests, but later described the overall event as having passed “peacefully”.
Much of the protest focused on the Bell Hotel in the town centre, which is currently being used to house asylum seekers and refugees. The hotel has become a flashpoint for local anger, with some residents and campaigners calling for its closure. One protester, who gave her name only as Cathy, told AFP: “They’re a threat. They don’t know who they are, who they’re allowing in these hotels, and basically they’re putting everybody at danger.”
On the other side, counter-demonstrators from the group Stand Up To Racism assembled in solidarity with refugees, chanting slogans such as “Refugees are welcome here” and “Whose streets? Our streets.”
Epping has become a focal point for heightened political and social tensions, reflecting wider national unease over immigration and border control. The UK has seen record numbers of irregular migrant arrivals this year, with nearly 24,000 people crossing the English Channel in small boats so far in 2025 — the highest number ever recorded at this point in the year.
The increasingly polarised debate has been exacerbated by inflammatory content on social media, often spread by far-right activists seeking to stir unrest. This volatile mix of misinformation, anger over economic hardship, and perceived government inaction has fuelled unrest across the country.
Memories remain raw from riots nearly a year ago, sparked by the fatal stabbings of three young girls in Southport on July 29 2024. Despite initial rumours, the perpetrator was later identified as a UK-born teenager with Rwandan heritage, but the false claims that he was a recent migrant triggered days of violent unrest in several towns and cities.
Sunday’s protest in Epping, though smaller than feared, is a stark reminder of the deep divisions and anxieties gripping parts of the country.
