Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has criticised Reform UK for attacking the police response to protests outside an asylum seeker hotel in Epping, Essex. She said officers deserved public support for keeping the country safe, rather than facing continual attacks from politicians.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, had called for the resignation of Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington after police escorted anti-fascist protesters through a crowd demonstrating against migrants. Farage accused the force of giving 'red carpet treatment' to 'hard-left groups' and 'masked thugs'.
Cooper dismissed the claims, saying: 'The police do a really important job across our country keeping people safe. It is really important frankly that people support our police rather than just attacking them continually.' She noted that Reform UK had also criticised women police officers on duty.
Chief Constable Harrington said the allegations were 'categorically wrong', explaining that officers had simply organised a cordon around activists exercising their right to protest. Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu also said Farage's claims were false and urged him to correct the public record.
Meanwhile, Epping Forest District Council voted unanimously for a non-binding motion calling for the immediate closure of the Bell hotel for asylum processing and the 'managed closure' of the Phoenix hotel. Council leader Chris Whitbread reiterated that the Home Office had the final say and had been 'not being overly cooperative' on safeguarding concerns.
Police have arrested 17 people in total over the protests, including an 18-year-old man for breaching a face covering ban. Far-right groups such as Homeland, Patriotic Alternative, and White Vanguard have been involved in organising the demonstrations, with some Reform UK councillors also present.
