Since 13 July 2025, protests against immigration have taken place in parts of the United Kingdom, some of which have led to violent disorder. At least 14 police officers have been injured and over 100 people have been arrested.
The first protests and disorder took place in Epping following the arrest of an Ethiopian asylum seeker in regards to three sexual assaults; he had arrived in the UK eight days prior and was being housed in a local hotel. Protests later spread to a number of locations, including Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and areas of London including Canary Wharf and Islington. Some protests were organised by far-right activists and groups including Britain First, Homeland Party and Patriotic Alternative, who have also been accused of spreading misinformation online.
These protests are the most recent in a series which have previously led to riots, most notably in 2024 when over 1,800 people were arrested and over 300 police officers injured. Earlier in the year, a series of riots took place in Northern Ireland which saw over 100 police officers being injured.
Background
"Asylum hotels"
The government of the United Kingdom is legally obliged to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be homeless until their applications have been considered. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels were only for temporary "contingency" use, with the government instead paying private contractors to rent apartments or houses. During the lockdowns, the eviction of asylum seekers whose cases had been decided on was paused to prevent them from becoming homeless and they were moved into empty hotels in order to comply with social distancing measures; this decision was described as a "temporary measure" by the government.[1]
Earlier anti-immigration protests
In recent years, anti-immigration sentiment has grown in the United Kingdom, with some people being increasingly frustrated at the response of the government to rising levels of illegal immigration. This frustration has reached a tipping point a number of times, most notably in 2024 when widespread riots led to over 1,800 arrests,[2] with over 300 police officers being injured.[3]
The spate of riots in 2024 followed a mass stabbing in which three children were killed and ten others injured. Soon after the attack, misinformation was spread online which incorrectly claimed that the attacker was an asylum seeker and a Muslim. These claims were spread by number of high-profile accounts on social media including Tommy Robinson, whilst a number of far-right activists called for nationwide protests.[4] Along with pre-existing Islamophobic and racist attitudes, disorder spread across the country and led to attacks against Asian, Black and Muslim people as well as mosques, shops and community buildings such as libraries.[5]
More recently, a series of riots in Northern Ireland in June led to over 50 arrests, with more than 100 police officers being injured.[6] They were triggered by the alleged sexual assault of a girl in Ballymena by two teenagers who appeared in court with a Romanian interpreter; a month later, it was estimated that two-thirds of the Roma residents in the town had left.[7]
Other more localised protests have occurred outside asylum hotels since 2021, however they never spread nationwide.[8] A few of these escalated into riots, including one in Knowsley on 10 February 2023: a police van was set on fire and missiles were thrown at officers, leaving three of them injured.[9]
Timeline of demonstrations
The Bell Hotel in 2019
Prior events in Epping (7–10 July)
On 7 and 8 July, a 41-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker allegedly committed three sexual assaults in Epping, only eight days after arriving in the UK by boat on 29 June. He was remanded in custody after appearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 10 July, where he denied three charges of sexual assault and charges of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.[10] He appeared in court again on 17 July for a case management hearing, where he was told he would face a two-day trial from 26 August.[11]
A second protest took place at the hotel in Epping on 17 July, attracting hundreds of demonstrators who were mostly local residents, although they were joined by some far-right activists, some of whom donned Britain First T-shirts. A separate counter-protest which included demonstrators from Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) took place outside Epping tube station, however they later converged with the initial protest at the hotel which had been peaceful until that point. Disorder then ensued as clashes occurred with the counter-protesters, with riot police surrounding the small group of them as bottles, eggs and flour were thrown at them; the town's High Street was blocked off for many hours as police were directly attacked, with many of their vehicles being vandalised.[13] The hotel itself was also damaged and the assistant chief constable of Essex Police said eight officers had suffered minor injuries, whilst two people had been arrested following the protest.[14] A third person was arrested in connection to the disorder on 19 July and was charged with violent disorder and criminal damage.[15]Nigel Farage called for the chief constable to resign after the police force was accused of "bussing" counter-protesters to the hotel; a police spokesman said the claims were "categorically wrong" but said officers had provided a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest.[16]
The next protest took place at the same location on 20 July and was attended by over 1,000 people. Disorder also took place during this protest, with six people being arrested after what was described as "mindless thuggery" by the chief superintendent of Essex Police. Bottles and smoke flares were thrown at police vehicles and officers from Norfolk and Suffolk were drafted in; one officer from the former was hospitalised after being struck in the face by a bottle.[17] Essex Police later said the cost of policing the protests on 17 and 20 July had exceeded £100,000.[18]
Protests begin elsewhere (19–26 July)
On 19 July, a right-wing protest took place in Dover with some Reform UK councillors in attendance; a small number of people supporting the far-right group Patriotic Alternative were also at the protest.[19]
On 21 July, protesters gathered outside a hotel housing asylum-seeking families in Diss, Norfolk, which the Home Office planned to change to house males. Initially, there were 60 protesters and 30 counter-protesters on opposing sides of a road, however after a confrontation the counter-protesters moved elsewhere.[20] The number of protesters grew to around 150 and two people were arrested in connection to the protest later in the week.[21]
On 22 July, a protest took place outside a four-star hotel in Canary Wharf, which Tower Hamlets Council said was going to be used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse, said "refugees are welcome here", whilst Lee Anderson, the Chief Whip of Reform UK, expressed his disapproval online and said he was "absolutely furious" in a video taken outside the hotel.[22] A second protest took place the following day, where anti-migrant protesters and counter-protesters shouted at each other from across the street as police guarded the hotel.[23]
On 24 July, a fourth protest took place at the Bell Hotel in Epping, with another protest taking place simultaneously at Epping Civic Offices, where a meeting regarding the hotel was taking place. Unlike the two previous protests, there was no disorder and only one person was arrested for refusing to remove a face covering, which police said was the 17th arrest in total. The council meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to urge the government to close the hotel.[24]
On 25 July, one person was arrested and charged in Leeds for obstructing a police officer during a peaceful protest at a hotel in Seacroft.[25] An estimated 300 anti-immigration protesters gathered in Sutton-in-Ashfield following the arrest of a man for the rape of a woman. Lee Anderson, whose constituency, Ashfield, was where the rape took place, claimed online that the suspect was an asylum seeker. The protesters gathered in the town centre, with a much smaller number of counter-protesters gathering at a nearby church.[26] Protests also took place in Bournemouth and Southampton, with one in Portsmouth seeing anti-migrant protesters face off with counter-protesters outside a hotel.[27]
On 26 July, around 400 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Bowthorpe, with around 150 counter-protesters also in attendance. Around 60 police officers were also at the scene, however the protest passed without incident and the force said no arrests were made.[28] A "mass deportation" protest in Glasgow led by Nick Tenconi, the leader of UKIP, saw around 150 supporters march through the city as hundreds of anti-racists staged a counter-demonstration organised by SUTR.[29]
Further protests (27 July – 1 August)
On 27 July, more protests took place in Epping with a large number of counter-protesters attending. There were between 300 and 400 anti-migrant protesters, however they were outnumbered by an estimated 2,000 counter-protesters who made their way from the train station to the hotel. Essex Police described the protest as peaceful but added that three people were arrested; officers from the Cheshire, Durham, Dyfed-Powys, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Metropolitan, Northamptonshire, Surrey, Sussex and West Midlands forces were at the scene, with the British Transport Police also assisting.[30] In Altrincham, protesters and counter-protesters faced off on either side of the A56 road outside a hotel with a small line of police between them.[31]
On 29 July, a peaceful protest took place in Hoylake after it was reported that the home officed planned to change the residents of a hotel from asylum-seeking families to single males. Wirral Council said they "strongly opposed" the plans and residents described their frustration over the lack of communication with the local community.[32]
On 30 July, over 1,000 anti-immigration protesters gathered in Waterlooville in opposition to plans to house asylum seekers in flats above shops. The protesters were supported by Suella Braverman, MP for Fareham and Waterlooville and former Home Secretary, who said the plans were "utterly inappropriate" and that she was "very proud" of protesters.[33] The plans were dropped on 8 August following the protest and a petition by Braverman which received over 10,000 signatures.[34]
On 31 July, another protest took place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping and passed peacefully with a march facilitated by police. Essex Police said that a total of 23 people had been arrested in connection with the earlier protests, 14 of whom had been charged.[35] A man was arrested during a third day of protests in Hoylake for supporting a preoscribed terrorist organisation, although police said the offence took place outside the area.[36] A protest also took place at a hotel in Stanwell after the Home Office revealed plans to exclusively house male asylum seekers there rather than the families which were currently being housed there. Over 100 protesters were in attendance and there were reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage; the following day it was announced that the plans had been paused.[37]
On 1 August, a 64-year-old counter-protester was hospitalised after being hit by a placard during a protest at The Meadows in Edinburgh.[38] A protest took place at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Portsmouth following an alleged incident with one of its residents; it was attended by both anti-migrant and anti-racism demonstrators.[39] Further protests also took place in Bournemouth and Southampton.[40]
Disorder in cities (2–3 August)
On 2 August, a total of 15 people were arrested in London, Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne following clashes amid protests at hotels housing asylum seekers. In London, protesters gathered at a hotel in Islington, with counter-protesters from SUTR also in attendance; police said nine people were arrested. In Newcastle, protesters and counter-protesters gathered at a hotel, with Northumbria Police saying four people were arrested there. In Manchester, around 1,500 people took place in a march organised by Britain First, with around 250 counter-protesters from SUTR; two people were arrested at the start of the march, which tracked from Manchester Piccadilly station to Manchester Central Library.[41] A demonstration outside accommodation for asylum seekers in Aberdeen led to two men being arrested and charged under the Hate Crime Act, one of whom was also charged for an assault.[42] A group of anti-migrant protesters gathered outside a hotel in Cannock, with counter-protesters also in attendance.[43] Around 200 people gathered for a protest in Newtownabbey.[44]
On 3 August, a further protest in Epping passed peacefully, with police arresting and charging two more people in connection to the disorder on 17 July, bringing the total to 25 arrested and 16 charged.[45] Another protest took place at the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf and flares were set off, with protesters being accused of trying to break into the hotel as they attempted to breach the fencing; one man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.[46]Merseyside Police said they had arrested a further three people for public order offences following protests in Hoylake earlier that week.[47]
Protests spread nationwide (4–10 August)
On 4 August, around 250 people gathered at the Civic Centre in Mansfield before marching to the police station following claims that asylum seekers were being housed there, with organisers accusing local police of failing to protect the public.[48] A small group of around 20 protesters blocked the entrance to a hotel in Watton after its renovation sparked rumours that it was to be repurposed by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.[49]
On 7 August, protestors gathered outside the offices of Spelthorne Borough Council as they discussed the Home Office's plans for the hotel in Stanwell; the discussion resulted in the council urging the government to reconsider its plans.[50]
On 8 August, police arrested two people at another protest in Epping, one of whom was arrested after an officer was struck by an object; despite this, police said the protest passed peacefully. These arrests brought the total in Epping to 27.[51] A SUTR protest took place at the hotel in Canary Wharf, with an anti-migrant counter-protest also in attendance; both sides had around 100 demonstrators and two people were arrested: one from each side.[52] Another protest in Altrincham attracted hundreds of opposing protesters, who were separated by the A56 road, the central reservation of which was lined with police; at least two assaults were reported to police during the protest.[53]
A protest took place in Crick after a resident of a local asylum hotel was charged with sexual assault.[54] Another protest in Bowthorpe attracted around 300 protesters, with 80 counter-protesters also attending.[55] Another protest took place in Hoylake, with around 100 protesters and 50 counter-protesters taking part.[56] A small protest outside a hotel in the Portswood, a suburb of Southampton, attracted around 25 protesters and 100 counter-protesters.[57]Nick Tenconi, the leader of UKIP, was accused of making a Nazi salute after he was recorded raising his arm at a protest in Portsmouth.[58] Around 100 protesters gathered outside a hotel in Chichester, which had been used to house migrants for around two years.[59] Groups of anti-migrant and anti-racist protesters gathered at a hotel near Cardiff Airport in Rhoose which was housing Afghan families.[60]
On 9 August, another protest took place near a hotel housing asylum seekers in Newcastle, where one person was arrested for a public order offence.[61] A protest taking place outside the Grand Metropole Hotel in Blackpool coincided with the Rebellion Festival, some of the attendees of which clashed with the protesters,[62] with one person being arrested for being drunk and disorderly.[63] Protesters marched through Heywood and gathered outside the office of Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton North.[64] Two groups of protesters faced off at a hotel in Liverpool, with some counter-protesters shouting "nazi" at people on the anti-migrant side.[65] A protest organised by Patriotic Alternative in Newark-on-Trent saw anti-migrant and anti-racist protesters clash outside the offices of Newark and Sherwood District Council.[66]
A protest took place in Nuneaton after George Finch, the leader of Warwickshire County Council, claimed that two men charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl were asylum seekers.[67] During the protest, which was organised by the Homeland Party, one person was arrested for threatening to cause criminal damage. Hundreds of people gathered outside Nuneaton Town Hall, with a smaller group of counter-protesters being outnumbered and led away by police after a few hours.[68] Protesters gathered outside the Ramada hotel in Solihull and marched from the police station to the town centre, with the Touchwood shopping centre closing following police advice.[69] Around 100 anti-immigration protesters and 300-400 counter-protesters gathered in outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Bristol.[70] A protest in Bournemouth attracted 200 anti-immigration protesters and 100 counter-protesters, with Dorset Police receiving support from Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire as they separated the opposing groups.[71] A protest took place outside a hotel near Exeter Airport which was housing asylum seekers, with counter-protesters also in attendance.[72] In Belfast, anti-immigration protesters gathered near the City Hall with a counter-demonstration also taking place;[73] two people were arrested: one man on suspicion disorderly behaviour and a woman for wearing a T-shirt in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action.[74]
On 10 August, a protest took place outside a hotel in Copthorne near Gatwick Airport.[75] Another protest in Epping attracted over 150 protesters.[76]
Protests continue (13–21 August)
On 13 August, Suella Braverman attended another protest in Waterlooville after plans to house asylum seekers there were ditched, becoming the "first sitting MP to address an illegal migrant protest at a rally".[77]
On 15 August, a protest took place at an asylum hotel in Sutton Coldfield which was once used for the TV series Crossroads.[78]
On 16 August, hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered at a hotel in Falkirk and faced off with anti-racism protesters; Police Scotland said two people was arrested, one for indecent exposure and the other for obstructing police.[79] A third protest took place in Cannock, with around 140 protesters and 40 counter-protesters facing off.[80] At a protest outside the County Hall in Maidstone, five councillors were pictured alongside a protester draped in the flag of British Movement, a neo-nazi organisation.[81]
On 17 August, a protest in Ashington attracted hundreds after concerns about illegal immigrants housed in the area and men taking photos of children were ignored.[82] A protest against using hotels to house asylum seekers attracted around 200 demonstrators in Dudley, with a small group of counter-protesters also in attendance.[83] Another protest in Bowthorpe was attended by hundreds of people who marched through the town and blocked a road.[84] At another protest in Epping, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord ChancellorRobert Jenrick was photographed close to Eddy Butler, a veteran far-right activist, leading to the Labour Party describing him as "a disgrace" as criticising his "staggering lack of judgment".[85] Hundreds of people gathered at another protest in Southampton, where anti-immigration and anti-racism demonstrators faced off.[86]
On 20 August, around 150 people gathered outside a hotel in Worcester, with West Mercia Police saying two officers had been assaulted but were not hurt. Three people were arrested: two on suspicion of assaulting police officers and one for breaching the peace.[87] Two days later, police arrested three more people in connection to the protest: all were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, with one also accused of assaulting an emergency worker and another for racially aggravated harrassment.[88]
On 21 August, another protest took place at a hotel in Bowthorpe, where two men connected to the hotel were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.[89]
Bank holiday weekend protests (22–25 August)
The weekend preceding the August Bank Holiday, which is on 25 August, saw another wave of protests across the country starting on 22 August. Protests were advertised for at least 26 hotels housing migrants, with SUTR organising 15 counter-protests; combined with other concurrent events including the Notting Hill Carnival and a number of Premier League matches, a number of police forces were under increased pressure.[90]
On 22 August, protesters gathered outside the Portsmouth Civic Offices and faced off with counter-protesters.[91] Another protest took place in Chichester, with 100 protesters and 30 counter-protesters in attendance.[92] A protest and counter-protest took place outside a hotel in Orpington, whilst around 250 anti-immigration demonstrators gathered at a hotel in Cheshunt and blocked the A10 road as they set off flares.[93] Smaller protests took place at hotels which had already seen demonstrations in Altrincham, Rhoose and Seacroft.[94]
On 23 August, around 200 people protested outside a hotel in Westhill, with a smaller number of people attending a counter-protest.[95] Around 150 people gathered outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Perth, with around 250 people attending a counter-protest across the street.[96] Anti-asylum protesters and counter-protesters clashed at another protest in Newcastle, with police having to keep the groups separated.[97] In Chadderton, around 150 anti-immigration protesters faced off with 20 counter-protesters.[98] A protest organised by UKIP in Liverpool city centre saw hundreds of demonstrators attend, with a SUTR counter-protest also taking place; 11 people were arrested for offences including affray, assault and drunk and disorderly.[99] A large group of people gathered for a peaceful protest outside a hotel in Woolston.[100] Around 300 people attended a protest in Mold opposing plans to house asylum seekers in the town, with around 40 counter-protesters also attending.[101]
A small protest took place outside a hotel in Long Eaton, with a counter-protest also in attendance following reports of some people being abusive towards migrants.[102] A fourth protest took place in Cannock, with many counter-protesters also in attendance as a banner reading "Welcome Home Lucy Connolly" was unveiled by demonstrators.[103] In Tamworth, around 150 people protested outside a hotel which had been the target of violent disorder in 2024.[104] A protest at a hotel in Oxford saw around 40 demonstrators clash with around 70 counter-protesters.[105] In Bristol, around 50 anti-immigration protesters and 250 counter-protesters gathered at Castle Park, with mounted police having to form a barrier between the two groups as one woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.[106] Around 200 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside a hotel in Horley and clashed with 30 counter-protesters, with lines of police having to separate them as three people were arrested.[107]
On 24 August, a protest took place outside a hotel in Stevenage.[108] Another protest in Solihull saw dozens of demonstrators circle a hotel housing asylum seekers.[109]
Further protests and disorder in Epping (29 August – 1 September)
Following the overturning of a temporary injunction which would have blocked asylum seekers being housed there, disorder broke out at the hotel in Epping on 29 August after weeks of peaceful protests. Two police officers were injured and three men were arrested: one for assaulting a police officer, one for drink driving and the other for violent disorder.[110] A small protest took place outside a hotel in Ashford.[111]
On 30 August, around 500 anti-asylum protesters from two separate groups gathered in West Drayton and marched to a Crowne Plaza hotel whilst smaller groups went to nearby Holiday Inn and Novotel hotels. A group of masked men attempted to break into the Crowne Plaza hotel and five people were arrested, with two police officers sustaining minor injuries.[112] In Aberdeen, another protest was attended by around 120 people and 50 counter-protesters.[113] Another protest in Falkirk saw hundreds of protesters gather at the office of Euan Stainbank, MP for Falkirk, before marching to a hotel housing asylum seekers where they faced off with counter-protesters; three people were arrested.[114] Another protest in Chadderton was attended by around 100 protesters and 50 counter-protesters.[115] Around 120 people gathered at the train station in Skegness and marched to a hotel housing asylum seekers, where the crowd grew to over 150; four people were arrested, including a 12-year-old boy.[116]
Two groups numbering around 100 people in total gathered at a hotel in Stoke-on-Trent, where they were separated by police as they faced off.[117] Around 100 people on both sides faced off at another protest outside a hotel in Long Eaton.[118] Around 100 anti- and 50 pro-immmigration protesters gathered at a hotel in Deanshanger which was being used to house asylum seekers.[119] Around 120 people on both sides gathered outside a hotel in the Barnwood suburb of Gloucester for an anti-immigration and counter-protest.[120] A protest outside a hotel in Swindon was attended by around 200 people at its height.[121] Another protest in Portsmouth saw around 150 anti- and 100 pro-immigration protesters march through the city.[122]
On 31 August, four people were arrested during a protest in Canary Wharf where a police officer was punched in the face.[123] In the Fallowfield area of Manchester, around 60 anti-immigration protesters were outnumbered by around 250 counter-protesters, with police having to keep the opposing groups apart.[124] Police in Wrexham issued a dispersal order after a protest.[125] Around 200 demonstrators gathered outside the council offices in Epping, where three people were arrested after protesters clashed with police.[126]
On 1 September, a road in Newtownabbey was closed after a roundabout was blocked by an anti-immigration protest.[127] In Plymouth, protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside the headquarters of Plymouth City Council in opposition of the removal of flags around the city.[128]
Concurrent events
Flags raised on streets
In mid-July, Union Jacks and Saint George's Crosses began to be put up in Weoley Castle, a suburb of Birmingham, apparently by a group dubbed the "Weoley Warriors" who did so in response to a 12-year-old girl in nearby Rugby being stopped from making a speech at school about being British because she was wearing a Union Jack-themed dress. Initially the appearance of flags was confined to areas of Birmingham, but by mid-August this phenomenon had spread across the country, with thousands of flags being attatched to lampposts; there have also been some cases of the Saint George's Cross, which is the flag of England, being painted on mini-roundabouts.[129]
Much of this has been assumed to be the work of "Operation Raise the Colours", a group that has encouraged people to put up flags and is alleged to have accepted a donation from the fascist organisation Britain First. According to the research group Hope Not Hate, it was co-founded by Andrew Currien, otherwise known as Andy Saxon, who has alleged links to the far-right groups English Defence League and Britain First.[129] Lewis Nielsen of the research group has said it "was never about flags, it’s about giving confidence to racists and fascists to target refugees and migrants.”[130]
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer gave an apparent endorsement of the flag-raising campaign when asked, describing the prime minister as a "patriot" who believed people should "absolutely" fly flags.[130]
Response
On 24 July, Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) unanimously voted in favour of urging the government to close the Bell Hotel, which was where the protests started.[131] On 30 July, a letter to the home secretary calling for an urgent meeting discussing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers was signed by Kevin Bentley, Alex Burghart, Roger Hirst, Neil Hudson and Christopher Whitbread.[132] On 12 August, EFDC applied for an interim injunction from the High Court to stop migrants being housed at the hotel.[133] On 15 August, Mr Justice Eyre ordered the hotel to refuse any new applications from asylum seekers until he had given his ruling following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice where he heard from both the council and the hotel's owners.[134] Despite an effort from home secretary Yvette Cooper to get the case dismissed, the council was granted the injunction on 19 August, with all asylum seekers housed there to be moved out by 4 p.m. on 12 September.[135]
Following the High Court ruling, the Home Office said the decision could "substantially impact" their ability to house asylum seekers, with fears that it may set a precedent and create pressure to find alternative accommodation sooner than expected.[136] A number of councils subsequently said they would work to stop the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, including all 12 councils controlled by Reform UK and the Conservative-run Broxbourne Borough Council.[137] On 29 August, Lord Justice Bean said the High Court ruling was "seriously flawed in principle" after overturning the injunction at the Court of Appeal.[138]
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