The legacy of Epping's asylum seeker protests one year on

Anita had hoped for a peaceful retirement after purchasing her home in the affluent town of Epping, situated in Essex, surrounded by its natural beauty. However, her tranquility was shattered in July 2025 when the town became the focal point of intense protests and counter-protests concerning asylum seekers. These events unfolded following the arrest of Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian migrant residing at The Bell Hotel, who was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl and a woman.

While many of the demonstrations were peaceful, participants argued they served a positive purpose in voicing community concerns. Unfortunately, some events escalated into violent disorder, resulting in six individuals being imprisoned. The local council even contemplated evacuating nearby residences due to the disorder. This incident also ignited broader debates about the policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels across British towns. Anita recalls the rapid shift in community discourse: “Overnight, our local social media platforms went from people seeking lost cats to the most vitriolic, horrible things.” For safety reasons, she has chosen to withhold her full name.

The turmoil affected Anita deeply, making her feel unsafe while simply walking home because of her British-Bangladeshi background. She describes a change in lifestyle, no longer frequenting shops and restaurants in town but instead driving out. Despite Epping’s upscale reputation, complete with establishments like Gail’s bakery and M&S Food, Anita observes the town’s atmosphere has shifted dramatically since the protests, leading her to plan a move back to London. She notes, “There are people who’d lived here for 30 years who have left because they couldn’t bear to see what’s happened.”

Historically, Epping is an ancient market town founded in the 13th Century, located on the road from London to Cambridge. The Bell Hotel, where Kebatu stayed, has served travelers for over 300 years. With a population of around 12,000, the town is known for its proximity to Epping Forest, which offers 6,000 acres of ancient woodland. Yet the exclusive charm of Epping High Road, lined with independent shops and cafes, was overshadowed last summer by the protests.

Those opposing the use of The Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation argue that their actions were justified, although some voices remain unavailable for comment. Orla Minihane, co-founder of the Pink Ladies protest group, publicly expressed concerns about an imbalance in local culture while the migrants were in town. She reported accounts of young non-white men allegedly grabbing girls and shoplifting, attributing these issues to the asylum seekers residing in the hotel. Minihane said, “You know they are coming for freebies and when they come here they abuse the privilege. It’s ridiculous.”

From another perspective, Sherzod, a media professional born in Uzbekistan and living near the hotel, described the neighborhood turning into a “warzone” as protests erupted. He speaks of an emboldening of racist attitudes locally and shared a personal incident where he was purposely bumped with a shopping trolley in Tesco, which he believes was racially motivated. Sherzod expressed his struggle with identity as a long-term UK resident: “It makes you extra sensitive to everything. It also makes you question your identity. Do I belong here? I thought I’d become British after spending a bigger part of my life in Britain than in my home country, but, since this happened, I constantly feel like an outsider.

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