The legacy of Epping's asylum protests a year on: 'It's still discussed in shops, pubs and cafes'
A year after violent protests erupted in Epping following the arrest of an asylum seeker, residents report a lasting negative impact on the town's social fabric. Many locals, including those from minority backgrounds, feel the community has been permanently altered and are choosing to relocate.
Why it matters
It highlights the long-term social consequences of localized political polarization and the strain that asylum housing policies can place on community cohesion.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Protests were staged for months in Epping after asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu was arrested for sexual offences
When Anita bought her house in the upmarket town of Epping, she dreamed of a happy retirement enjoying the nature surrounding her.
What she did not bargain for was her Essex home becoming a battleground of anti-asylum seeker protests and counter-demonstrations in July 2025.
It followed the arrest of Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu, who was living at The Bell Hotel in the town when he sexually assaulted a schoolgirl and a woman.
Most protests that followed were peaceful - and protesters argue they were a force for good. However, some descended into chaos and six people have been jailed for violent disorder so far.
At one point, Epping Forest District Council considered evacuating nearby houses due to the chaos.
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