Court of Appeal suggests there should have been an Epping protest ban

The judge who ordered a hotel in Essex to stop housing migrants should have considered banning the protests instead, the Court of Appeal has suggested.

The court yesterday issued its full judgment on the case of The Bell Hotel in Epping, having overturned a High Court injunction that ordered the removal of asylum seekers.

Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, criticised High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre, saying he 'did not appear to consider what alternative measures to mitigate the disruption caused by protests were available'.

The judgment states: 'Epping do not appear to have considered such alternatives either. These could either be measures taken by the police... or an application by the council for an injunction against certain forms of protest.'

Last night, Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: 'At the invitation of [Home Secretary] Yvette Cooper's lawyers, the Court of Appeal ruled the public interest was in keeping illegal migrants in hotel accommodation, while the harms to Epping residents were put aside.