Two more right-wing extremists have been jailed for their roles in violent anti-migrant protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Essex.
Charlie Land, 24, and Jonathan Glover, 48, were convicted of violent disorder following a 10-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. Land was also convicted of criminal damage.
Glover, of Waltham Abbey, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Land, of Hatfield, received a 32-month sentence. Their convictions follow months of unrest surrounding demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel, where asylum seekers were being accommodated.
Police said footage showed Glover shouting at officers and impeding police carriers as they arrived in Epping on 17 July. Drone and body-worn camera footage also showed Land repeatedly damaging police vehicles during the evening.
A third man, 34-year-old Keith Silk, of Loughton, was convicted during the same trial of violent disorder and criminal damage. He is due to be sentenced on 10 November.
The latest convictions form part of a much wider criminal justice response to the protests. Essex Police said 11 men have now been convicted over their behaviour during the demonstrations, with 10 sentenced so far. Immediate custodial sentences currently total more than 17 years.
The events in Epping are not an isolated example of tensions surrounding hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Across Britain, demonstrations outside asylum accommodation have sometimes attracted far-right activists alongside local residents who say they are concerned about the impact on their communities.
In Knowsley, Merseyside, in February 2023, violence broke out during a protest outside the Suites Hotel, which was being used to house asylum seekers. A police officer was injured and a police van was set on fire. Several people were subsequently convicted in connection with the disorder.
There have also been repeated demonstrations outside asylum accommodation in other parts of England, including Rotherham and Tamworth. While many participants have protested peacefully, some demonstrations have been accompanied by intimidation, clashes with police and attacks on property.
Essex Police Chief Inspector Terry Fisher said the disorder in Epping had left residents “scared and anxious”, while businesses were affected by early closures and disruption to daily life.
The distinction between lawful protest and criminal violence remains important. People have the right to express strong opinions about immigration and asylum policy, including opposition to government decisions. However, that right does not extend to attacking police officers, damaging vehicles or engaging in violent disorder.
The prison sentences handed to Land and Glover therefore represent more than punishment for individual offences. They also underline the consequences of turning political anger into violence.
As concerns over immigration continue to generate heated debate, the events in Epping demonstrate how quickly demonstrations can escalate when peaceful protest gives way to intimidation and criminal behaviour. Authorities will hope that the convictions serve as a warning that political grievances, however strongly held, cannot justify violence or damage to property.
