The Epping Forest District Council is seeking a temporary injunction to prevent asylum seekers from being housed at The Bell Hotel, citing public safety risks amid violent protests. The protests began last month, attracting up to 2,000 demonstrators, leading to multiple arrests for related offences. Council representative Philip Coppel KC described the situation as an increase in community tension linked to the use of the hotel for asylum seekers. The hotel owners, Somani Hotels, argue that an injunction would cause hardship to the asylum seekers and set a concerning legal precedent.
The High Court has been told that housing asylum seekers at The Bell Hotel poses an "unacceptable" risk to public safety, prompting Epping Forest District Council to seek a temporary injunction against it.
Protests erupted outside The Bell Hotel involving up to 2,000 people, resulting in 16 individuals charged with offences related to the violence and disorder.
Philip Coppel KC argued that the protests indicate a "very serious problem" in the community, describing the situation as one of increasing tension due to the asylum seekers being placed at the hotel.
Attorneys for Somani Hotels asserted that granting an injunction would cause significant "hardship" to the asylum seekers and warned against allowing protests to dictate planning decisions.
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