Police in Epping have had to set the record straight that they did not call the anti-immigration protesters ‘fascists’.
A misheard word has spiralled into outrage after YouTuber Wesley Winter – with a following of almost 180,000 – published a video from the disorder outside The Bell Hotel.
The demonstration – one of many targeting hotels housing asylum seekers across England – drew in crowds from rival camps and resulted in as many as 15 people arrested.
Essex Police was forced to issue a statement on X, following Winter’s clip: ‘Quite an important correction on this clip doing the rounds.
(Picture: Getty)
‘The video shows officers policing recent protests in Epping. The officer actually says: “If you see any FLASHES, left or right, you deal”.
‘Officers often talk about being alert to ‘flashes/flashpoints’ at protests!’
This was in response to the 29-year-old’s post, which read: ‘Police ordered to deal with “FASCISTS”.
‘Context: Stand Up To Racism protesters were getting their royal police escort back to Epping Station.
‘Local protesters could have potentially ambushed them and come out from the trees as they’re walking. Officer then gives his orders.’
The clarification did not stop people online clambering on Winter’s post and accusing the force of the ‘outrageous’ lack of impartiality and also calling for an official complaint.
Others went as far as screengrabbing the badges of officers and posting them online.
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Far-right blogger Paul Weston was one of them. He also described the police attitude as a ‘chilling example of Soviet-style politicised policing.’
Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle stressed that the protests must not be used to ‘have a pop at the police’.
Asked on Sky News what her message was to protesters, Dame Angela said that ‘anger doesn’t get you anywhere’
She added: ‘What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work we’re doing with the police to protect people.
‘We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. We’ll do it faster if we can.’
Dame Angela added: ‘We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.’
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