Claims that Essex Police bussed antiracism activists into Epping have been denied but continue to spread on social media and right-wing news channels, fueling violent protests in the town. The unrest centres on the Bell hotel, which houses asylum seekers, and was sparked after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.
Local men, including one who gave his name as 'Steve Davis', insisted that police vans transported counter-demonstrators and that undercover officers were among them. However, Essex Police 'categorically' denied these allegations, dismissing suggestions of state-sponsored 'false flag' provocateurs as a frequent trope on social media during tensions.
The disinformation has been amplified by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and featured on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. Farage posted footage on X claiming police transported left-wing protesters, prompting a call for the resignation of the chief constable. After being contacted by police, Farage moderated his language but maintained the 'gist' of his claim.
Video clips of Stand Up to Racism protesters being escorted by police in vans after being surrounded by hostile groups were misrepresented as showing them being bussed in. In reality, protesters walked from the station and were escorted for safety. Lewis Nielsen of Stand Up to Racism called the claims a 'complete lie' that caused 'real damage'.
Far-right groups including Homeland, Patriotic Alternative, and the neo-Nazi White Vanguard movement have been active in promoting the protests online. Other unsubstantiated claims, such as asylum seekers shoplifting, continue to circulate, contributing to a climate of mistrust.
