A council in Essex has won a High Court injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, despite a last-minute intervention from the government.
Epping Forest District Council brought the case amid rising tensions in the community, which escalated after an asylum seeker staying at the hotel was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Thousands of people have taken part in protests near the venue in recent weeks, with some demonstrations turning violent. Essex Police confirmed that 16 people have been charged with offences linked to the unrest.
The venue is owned by Somani Hotels Limited and had been earmarked for migrant accommodation under Home Office contracts. However, Mr Justice Eyre sided with the council, rejecting Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s late attempt to have the case thrown out.
The Home Office had argued that the ruling could “substantially impact” its ability to use hotels to house asylum seekers across the UK.
Council leader Chris Whitbread, a Conservative, said the decision was necessary to prevent “irreparable harm” to community relations in Epping. He added:
“Protests have escalated in recent weeks, creating significant risk to public safety. This injunction was vital to protect our community.”
The ruling temporarily blocks the use of The Bell Hotel for asylum accommodation while the full legal challenge continues. The Home Office has yet to comment on whether it will appeal.