Today in the House of Commons, Epping Forest MP Dr Neil Hudson called for the Government to take accountability following the wrongful release of Hadush Kebatu, the convicted sex offender who had previously resided in the Bell Hotel in Epping, and demanded the Government urgently respond to its immigration failures by closing the Bell Hotel, responding to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Urgent Statement on the matter in the House of Commons.
Dr Hudson made his remarks following the incident over the weekend in which Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker formerly residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was wrongfully released on 24th October from HMP Chelmsford following a period of detention for sexual assault of a woman and a 14-year-old girl. He was found 48 hours later in London and taken back into custody.
In his remarks, Dr Hudson reminded the Government that the victims of these crimes are entitled to get answers as to how this dangerous breach happened, while demanding that Ministers also ‘get a grip’ on illegal immigration that has escalated on their watch.
Dr Hudson also today spoke urgently with the Prisons Minister to discuss this situation, the impact on the victims and the lessons that need to be learned.
The Bell Hotel, which was closed for use as asylum accommodation by the previous Conservative Government in April 2024, was reopened by the Labour Government earlier this year without local consultation and against local advice.
Since July, protests in Epping have been largely peaceful expressions of concern with deeply troubling incidents that have occurred since the use of the Bell Hotel began, but unfortunately on a minority of occasions escalated to violent confrontations, which resulted in injury to police officers and damage to police vehicles.
Dr Hudson has repeatedly urged the Government to listen to the communities of Epping and close the hotel for use as asylum accommodation for their safety and security, directly urging the Home Office to close the Hotel in the House of Commons Chamber prior to today’s intervention, in July and September of this year:
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/today-chamber-epping-forest-mp-repeats-calls-closure-bell-hotel
He has also written with neighbouring MP Sir Alex Burghart, Epping Forest District Council and Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to call for alternative arrangements to be made and to close the Bell and Phoenix Hotels and for an urgent meeting with then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, as well as him writing to the former and current Border Security and Asylum Ministers Dame Angela Eagle MP and Alex Norris MP, to request urgent meetings with them regarding the matter.
Dr Hudson continues to support the safety of Epping and its communities by seeking for the closure of the Bell Hotel.
In the House of Commons, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“My thoughts are with the victims of this sex offender’s crimes, including the 14 year old Epping school girl. They and their families want answers as to how this major breach could have happened.
The Prime Minister and Justice Secretary said they were appalled and livid.
Well, that’s great, so is everyone. But ministers are not commentators, they are in charge, and ultimately accountable for this.
This hasn’t gone away for the people of Epping, the twice weekly protests continue, no-one wants to see our town repeatedly the lead story in the news, and the events of recent days have raised again community anxiety and distress.
Will the Government now get a grip on this issue, address the illegal immigration that has spun out of control on their watch, and do the right and safe thing and close the Bell Hotel immediately?”
Following his intervention, Dr Hudson commented:
“The victims of this convicted sex offender are very much in my thoughts following this totally unacceptable operational breach.
“This has only heightened the distress and anxiety the Bell Hotel situation has caused in our community since it was re-opened by this Government.”
“The Government must take responsibility for what took place and need to get a grip, address the illegal immigration crisis that has spiralled out of control on their watch, and close the Bell Hotel urgently.”
