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People Are Angry: The Surge in Asylum Hotel Protests

Community protests have erupted across the UK against the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers. INLIBER visits Epping and Canary Wharf to capture voices on both sides and examine the wider impact.

Orla Minihane, a lifelong Epping resident and Reform UK member, says the arrival of single male asylum seekers in The Bell Hotel has raised safety fears. "We’re not comfortable with these men here because we fear for our children," she explains.

Orla Minihane, a blonde woman in a blue shirt, stands in her garden in front of green bushes.

Protests Spread Across Communities

Since July, more than 200 hotels nationwide have been used to house asylum seekers, sparking hundreds-strong demonstrations in towns from Essex to London. In Epping, crowds gathered after an 80-room hotel resident was charged with serious offences, intensifying debate about the wider impact.

Voices from Inside

One resident, Wael from Libya, who is awaiting his fourth Home Office interview, says locals in Epping have been welcoming. "I want to learn English and work. My dream is simple: make money and play football," he says.

Wael, a man with curly hair, is wearing a navy blue jumper. He stands in front of fences outside the Bell hotel in Epping which has temporary metal fences outside.

Tensions and Transparency

Opponents of the hotels cite unverified reports of local crime and allege a lack of information on the age, origin, and status of asylum seekers. In Epping, reported sexual and violent offences rose from 28 to 35 year-on-year, but it is unclear how many involved hotel residents.

Calls for Openness

Local residents and activists are demanding clearer data from the government. "If they said there are 70 in the Bell Hotel, five from Sudan, five from elsewhere, I think most people would feel better," says Orla Minihane. The Home Office has declined to confirm hotel details for safety reasons.

Orla Minihane sits on a beige dining chair at her home

Political and Social Impact

On Canary Wharf, similar protests have emerged against the Britannia International Hotel. Some residents equate legal migration with asylum arrivals, arguing irregular crossings undermine formal processes.

Jack Taylor/Getty Images A man holds a flag bearing the St George's cross opposite protesters attending a rally organised by Stand Up To Racism outside the Britannia International Hotel on July 25, 2025 in London, England.

Activist groups like Stand Up To Racism urge the government to partner with local councils, share information on asylum seekers’ origins and application status, and help communities settle newcomers.

A woman in a black coat stands on a balcony in front of houses and a railway bridge in London.

Local anger over safety concerns and limited transparency has driven protests against asylum hotels, even as some residents voice support and call for clearer government communication.

This topic was reported by BBC News

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