Asylum Seekers Removed from The Bell Hotel
All asylum seekers residing at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, have been evacuated following concerns related to fire safety. The hotel had been the center of ongoing protests and controversy.
Last summer, demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel escalated into violence after a resident was charged and later convicted of sexually assaulting a child. This incident intensified scrutiny of the hotel’s use as asylum accommodation.
A spokesperson from Epping Forest District Council confirmed that only security personnel remain on the premises and that the council is currently seeking further information from the Home Office regarding the situation.
The Home Office stated that the removal of residents was prompted by fire safety concerns, with the BBC reporting that this action took place earlier in the week. A government spokesperson emphasized that this was a precautionary measure and affirmed the department's commitment to the safety of service users and staff.
"We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites,"the spokesperson added, noting that the Home Office is working to reduce incentives for illegal migration to the UK.
"The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year and by 63% from the peak under the previous government."
An Epping Forest District Council representative stated that the council was not informed in advance about the evacuation despite ongoing engagement with the government. They are currently seeking clarification on the details and future plans from the Home Office.
"We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on the details of what has happened and what their next steps will be,"the spokesperson said.
The BBC understands that there are no current plans to return migrants to The Bell Hotel. However, a planning application was submitted earlier this month to continue using the hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.
Background and Controversy Surrounding The Bell Hotel
The Bell Hotel, located on the outskirts of Epping, has intermittently housed migrants since 2020. The accommodation of single male asylum seekers at this site became a contentious issue last year following two sexual assaults—a teenage girl and a woman were assaulted by an asylum seeker residing at the hotel.
Hadush Kebatu was convicted for these offenses and subsequently deported to Ethiopia. Prior to deportation, Kebatu was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in the autumn of the previous year.
Epping Forest District Council made multiple legal attempts to close the hotel to asylum seekers but was unsuccessful. The legal actions taken against Somani, the hotel’s owning company, and the Home Office have cost the council approximately £860,000, according to recent figures.
Last autumn, The Bell Hotel housed 138 asylum seekers, although the number has reportedly decreased in recent months.
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