Protesters have accused Essex Police of using pepper spray on demonstrators, including women, during a confrontation outside Epping’s Bell Hotel on Sunday evening. Social media videos show officers advancing on a group holding England flags and Union Jacks, with pushing and shouting ensuing.
Protesters claimed PAVA synthetic pepper spray was deployed, citing visible distress, coughing, and calls for water or milk to alleviate eye irritation. One clip seems to show a woman being pushed to the ground, and at least one arrest is apparent, with tempers flaring as protesters argue with police.
The demonstration opposed the hotel’s use to house asylum seekers under a Home Office contract. The Bell Hotel has been a site of recurring anti-immigration protests throughout 2025, following earlier clashes in July and August that led to arrests and injuries. A November High Court ruling allowed continued accommodation of asylum seekers, overturning a local council challenge.
No injuries have been reported from the incident based on circulating footage, and the precise circumstances prompting the alleged use of force remain unclear.
Essex Police have been contacted for comment on the accusations of spray deployment, any arrests, and the events leading to the confrontation.
The videos have fuelled online accusations of heavy-handed policing, with some alleging inconsistent treatment compared to other protests.
Express.co.uk has contacted Essex Police for comment.
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