A HARLOW man has been charged with a public order offence following an incident at the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow Harlow, will appear in court in September.

A second man remains in custody being questioned on suspicion of a public order offence.

Essex Police have issued a statement regarding incidents at the hotel iron the High Road.

It states:

On Thursday 17 July a number of local Epping residents carried out what was an initial peaceful protest outside The Bell Hotel in Epping High Road.

These residents were peacefully and legitimately protesting. This follows a recent alleged incident involving a resident of the hotel who was swiftly arrested, charged and remanded.

This criminal investigation remains live and ongoing through the court system.

After carrying out their peaceful protests, members of the Epping community largely dissipated, however a number of individuals arrived at the scene, intent on causing trouble.

In the violence that followed, officers faced extreme hostility from a large number of individuals.

These individuals:

• threw missiles at officers and the hotel
• smashed police vans and vehicles
• caused damage to the hotel
• injured one officer
• Prevented local residents from being able to use Epping High Road.

A total of eight officers were assaulted and suffered a range of minor injuries.

Several suspects who caused trouble have been identified and we are now seeking to arrest them.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said:

“All these criminals are doing is taking away the voice of local people who want to protest legitimately and peacefully.

“There are also Epping residents who don’t want to protest, and they also have a right to go about their business without criminals disrupting their lives and bringing violence to their doorstep.

“We can’t have a situation where people are assaulting police officers, causing damage to property and vehicles or forcing us to close roads all of which massively impacts local people and their ability to live their lives.

“With the selfish criminal behaviour we saw last night all that happens is the voice of the community is lost, their lives are disrupted and their police officers are pulled away from the things that matter to them – like investigating and preventing other crime – to deal with a mindless minority who don’t give a damn about the hard working good people of Epping.

“I ask the people of Epping to unite with us and stand against criminality and criminals but also to remain calm.
“We don’t do politics, we don’t do sides, we do policing without fear or favour whoever you are whatever crime you’ve committed.
“The people who came to our community to cause violence and disorder will of course be coming back – to go in our cells.
“Help us get them because the people of Essex are proud people and these streets are ours.”

Today, Friday 18 July, officers remain at the scene of The Bell Hotel and are patrolling Epping.

They will do so throughout the weekend to keep our communities safe.

Asst Chief Con Hooper added:

“Many protesters who attended yesterday behaved lawfully and responsibly.
“I know all of the community of Epping remains concerned, not just about the events of last night, but wider issues and we recognise that and remain committed to keeping everyone safe.
“I would urge anyone with any footage or imagery that could help to send them into us so that we can make further arrests as quickly as we can.
“I would also like to extend my thanks to colleagues in neighbouring forces who have played a part in the response to last night’s criminal incidents; that includes the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police as well as others in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Kent.”

On Thursday evening, 17 July, two men were arrested.

One man has since been charged with a public order offence. Dean Walters, 65, of Corner Meadow Harlow, will appear in court in September.

A second man remains in custody being questioned on suspicion of a public order offence.

A dedicated public portal where you can share information or video footage which would help our investigation has bene set up.