Asylum hotel vacated after fire safety concerns

All asylum seekers who were staying at a hotel that has been the focus of ongoing protests have been removed from the site.

Demonstrations turned violent outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, last summer after one of its residents was charged and subsequently convicted of sexually assaulting a child.

A spokesperson for Epping Forest District Council said that only security staff remained on site and it was seeking clarification from the Home Office.

The Home Office said residents were removed because of fire safety concerns. The BBC understands this happened earlier this week.

The government spokesperson said it was a precautionary measure and it took the safety of service users and staff extremely seriously.

They would not comment further on The Bell Hotel, but said the Home Office was "removing incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain".

"We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites," they said.

"The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year and by 63% from the peak under the previous government."