Police arrest three protesters outside Epping migrant hotel just hours after Home Office court victory
WATCH: Patrick Christys rages ‘I’m going to explode in a minute’ as Epping mother makes staggering police claim
|GB NEWS
A dispersal order has been put in place for Friday night and protesters have been banned from wearing balaclavas
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Three people have been arrested in Epping after protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the Home Office.
Alongside the Essex town, people also assembled in Cheshunt in Hertfordshire to show their anger that the Government won its bid to block the closure of the Bell Hotel.
One person was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder while another was on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
A third man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a car was driven on the wrong side of the road towards a police cordon.
Protesters gathered after the ruling from the Court of Appeal which allows asylum seekers to continue to be housed at the Bell Hotel
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All three remain in custody.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: "Protest is a democratic right, and we will always do all we can to facilitate that, for every group seeking to make their voice heard.
"The overwhelming majority of people in Epping tonight clearly wanted their voices to be heard and they did that safely and without the need for a police response.
"However, the right to protest does not include a right to commit crime and tonight a small number of people were arrested."
Authorities also confirmed that two police officers had sustained minor injuries.
MORE REACTIONS TO THE COURT RULING:
Over the past month, there have been numerous peaceful protests outside the Bell Hotel
|PA
Essex Police also implemented a dispersal order which will remain in place until 6am on Saturday.
Mr Pavelin said: "Officers will remain in the area in the coming hours to ensure the dispersal order which remains in place is adhered to."
An order to prevent protesters wearing balaclavas has also been put in place after Essex Police said it believed a group of people were planning to travel from Cheshunt to Epping wearing facemasks and balaclavas.
Mr Pavelin added: "The threat of anti-social behaviour and criminality by people attempting to conceal their identity steps outside of the reasonableness of protest and we have a duty to protect our community.
"My officers will be fair and engaging, but they will be firm in how they deal with anyone who is asked to remove a face covering and refuses."
He continued: "The strength of feeling in Epping throughout the summer is not lost on me.
"My continued plea to those people who want their voices to be heard is to please do that safely and peacefully."
Meanwhile, those demonstrating outside of the Bell Hotel have reiterated that they are there to stay.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a resident of the Bell Hotel in Epping, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and one count of harassment
|PA
One local resident told GB News they are "devastated" after the ruling.
Last month, the Bell Hotel in Epping became the centre of protests after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
He has denied the charges.
A temporary injunction was then granted which would have meant the 138 asylum seekers housed in the hotel would have had to leave by September 12.
Councillor Ken Williamson told of Epping Forest District Council's 'disappointment' in the ruling
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However, on Friday, the Court of Appeal overturned this ruling in a move which has angered many across the country.
Speaking outside the court, Councillor Ken Williamson from Epping Forest District Council said: "We are deeply disappointed by the outcome of today's hearing.
"While Epping Forest has brought the wider asylum seeker debate into sharp national focus, the concern and motivation of Epping Forest District Council throughout has been the wellbeing of our local residents, where we had clarity and resolution, we now have doubt and confusion.
"The battle is not over and we will continue to fight."