Dozens of protesters have marched on a suspected migrant hotel in Essex in a fourth day of action after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.
One of the protesters has been arrested, police said, as more than 100 demonstrators gathered on Sunday evening.
Protesters were heard chanting “save our kids”, with some setting off flares in blue and red, while others held signs which read “deport foreign criminals”, “we go home when they go back” and “defend our girls”.
Bottles and smoke flares were thrown towards police vans blocking the entrance to the hotel.
Prior to the start of the action, Essex Police announced it would order demonstrators to remove face coverings when requested under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Demonstrators who refuse to remove a face mask when ordered to do so face arrest and could be imprisoned if convicted, the force said.
“The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately,” officers said.
It comes after a man was charged with violent disorder and criminal damage on Sunday afternoon following previous clashes outside the hotel.
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|Police outside the hotel in Epping
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|The shattered windscreen of a police car
Eight police officers were injured after what started as a peaceful protest on Thursday evening.
Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday, Essex Police said.
The force said on Sunday that the CPS had authorised police to charge Silk with one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage.
He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Thursday’s demonstration was one of a series of protests outside the hotel since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
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|Police officers escort a woman away from a demonstration for her own safety, after a protest outside a suspected migrant hotel in Epping, Essex
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said on Friday that he believes that a lot of those responsible for the violence outside the hotel came from beyond the borders of Epping.
He said: “We actually saw last night we believe outsiders from our communities. People have come from outside their local areas into Epping to commit acts of violence and damage.
“That was really disappointing to see, because we know our communities wanted a voice and wanted to tell us what was going on, and they were peaceful in their activity.
“I’ve seen some of the social media comments and spoken to a number of members of the community, and there are polarised views.
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|Protesters lit flares and marched on the hotel
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|Police officers and protesters on Hemnall Street in Epping
“But it’s our role as police to be independent and to, without fear or favour, make sure that people have the right to peaceful protest.
“What I won’t stand for is those mindless acts of vandalism and violence that we saw and making sure that we are very robust in supporting our communities.
“Our communities don’t want to see this violence, and they want to have their voice heard peacefully.”
One resident living next to the hotel, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s all horrible. Epping is a very nice place.
“It is very unfortunate that this has attracted people from outside the area.
“They [those staying in the hotel] haven’t given us any safety concerns. The safety concerns are from those protesting.
“The police will be here tonight, they were here last night.
“But I know there’s a lot of mixed views in the town about the hotel.”