A woman has been arrested in Epping after protesting at the local migrant hotel and waving a Union Flag over a council building. The anonymous woman was arrested on Sunday evening, along with two other men, on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order. The order set out areas of Epping where protests were allowed, but she went outside of this to the Civic Centre to unfurl her flag.
Essex Police stressed that her arrest was not for flying the Union Flag, but for breaching the order. One of the men was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after reportedly setting “an emblem” alight on Friday. The other man was arrested, like the woman, for breaching the Section 14 order after refusing to leave the area where the protesters congregated.
All three remained in custody on Sunday evening, Essex Police said.
The force kept in place its dispersal order into the evening, which allowed officers to request the removal of face coverings.
Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “We know the strength of feeling in Epping regarding a very important issue. And to reiterate what we’ve repeatedly said, we always remain impartial – this is the role of policing.
“Turning next to the arrest of a woman shortly after 7.15pm tonight. She was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 14 order as we sought to de-escalate a highly emotional situation.
“To be very clear, despite suggestions we’ve seen on social media, she was not arrested for flying a Union Flag on the Civic Centre.”
On Monday, a man was sentenced to a suspended eight week jail sentence after assaulting an officer during a protest in Epping on Firday night.
Jimmy Hillard was outside the Bell Hotel and assaulted to officers after the asked him to move away from a cordon. He pushed one of them, causing them to fall down, and kicked the other.
The 52-year-old was charged with assaulting an emergency worker at Chelmsford Magistrates Court after admitting to the offence.
