UK Police Brace for Immigration Protests Near London Amid Rising Tensions

UK police are on high alert this weekend as immigration-related protests are expected in Epping, northeast of London. Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington confirmed a major policing operation with hundreds of officers deployed to manage demonstrations planned for Saturday and Sunday.

The unrest follows last week’s protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, currently housing asylum seekers. Violent clashes led to 10 arrests, with five men charged for disorder and eight officers injured by thrown projectiles. The hotel has become a flashpoint after an Ethiopian asylum seeker, who arrived in the UK by boat just days earlier, was charged with sexual assault and other offences—charges he denies.

The situation is inflamed by rising anti-immigration sentiment and coincides with the anniversary of last summer’s far-right riots, triggered by misinformation about migrants. Harrington emphasized Essex Police’s commitment to public safety while supporting the right to peaceful protest.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to address record-high asylum arrivals—nearly 20,000 migrants came by small boats in the first half of 2025. As tensions escalate, the UK police force remains focused on preventing violence and safeguarding all communities.