Cooper launches last ditch attempt with High Court over asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel

The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she has a duty to house asylum seekers and a High Court injunction will have a “substantial impact” should the Home Office lose.

Epping Forest District Council has made a High Court application for an injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel as this is in breach of planning laws and with the hotels operations.

Epping council wants the Bell Hotel cleared of asylum seekers within 14 days after many weeks of protests, which have turned violent at times.

Mr Justice Eyre was to deliver his ruling until the 11th hour intervention by Edward Brown KC to fight the case on behalf of the Home Office.

Brown KC argued that if the injunction is granted this will have an “impact” on Cooper’s ability to house the illegal migrants crossing the English Channel, he added there is a “powerful public interest” in the Home Secretary being able to make arguments of this case.

Brown KC acknowledged the granting of the injunction could open the doors for more High Court battles in the coming weeks and months.

He said, “There’s a risk there could be similar applications made, which would aggravate the pressure on the asylum estate.”

The council’s barrister, Philip Coppel KC, said the Home Office “thoroughly unprincipled” for making the bid, he warned this could “derail” the judge’s ruling whether this is intentional or not.

“In Epping, the schools resume on September 2 and 3”, he said.

“The council is attempting to restore a safe and stable environment for schools, restaurants, and businesses.”

Coppel KC said the application for the injunction is because there is a “clear breach of planning control,” and the premises has been a hotel since 1900.

He argued that the High Court’s intervention will “restore the safety of nearby residents, in particular students at the five schools within walking distance of the Bell Hotel”, this will also “remove of the catalyst for violent protests in public places adjacent to the Bell Hotel”.

He continued that a court order will “allay the serious anxiety being caused to residents within the vicinity of the Bell Hotel.”

This will also have the effect of “alleviating asylum seeker exposure to violent protests and a placement that provides inadequate resources for their needs.”