News
Home Office confirms end of contract with Bell Hotel in Epping
2+ hour, 43+ min ago (498+ words) Politics / Fri 12th Jun 2026 at 03: 20pm THE Home Office has, this morning, confirmed to Epping Forest District Council that it is terminating its contract with the Bell Hotel in Epping as asylum accommodation. It will cease being used by 11 July 2026 and all…...
Young people's voices central to knife crime prevention in Essex
3+ week, 3+ day ago (707+ words) Crime / Tue 19th May 2026 at 06: 37am AS Knife Crime Awareness Week (1824 May) begins, Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (Essex VVU) is shining a light on the importance of listening to young people and working with them to prevent knife harm. Since 2019/20, knife…...
Knife killings down by 21%, figures show
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (395+ words) Crime / Fri 24th Apr 2026 at 07: 31am KILLINGS involving a knife or sharp instrument fell by 21% last year, according to figures from police forces in England and Wales reports the BBC. It comes after official data previously showed that'homicides had fallen to their…...
Essex Police pause use of live facial recognition after study found it was statistically more likely to identify black people
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (242+ words) Crime / Sun 22nd Mar 2026 at 09: 04am ESSEX Police has paused the use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras after a study found it was statistically more likely to identify black people than other ethnic groups reports the BBC. Essex Police has used…...
Epping Council refused permission to appeal High Court decision on Bell Hotel
2+ mon, 4+ week ago (435+ words) Crime / Fri 13th Mar 2026 at 04: 41pm TODAY, Epping Forest District Council received the news that the Court has refused permission to appeal the decision taken by The Honourable Mr Justice Mould in November. Council leader Chris Whitbread said: "We are angry and…...
Council leader Dan Swords defiant: "The facts are absolutely clear " the Government is seeking to place 204 asylum seekers in Harlow and the action we have taken has stopped that plan"
8+ mon, 4+ day ago (1335+ words) News / Wed 8th Oct 2025 at 10: 16am THE LEADER of Harlow Council has issued a defiant statement regarding his actions over Redstone House. YH went to the civic offices in The Water Gardens to speak to council leader Dan Swords about the the…...
Epping Council takes Home Office to task as leader calls for calm over asylum seeker hotels
11+ mon, 3+ hour ago (496+ words) Politics / Sat 12th Jul 2025 at 02: 46pm EPPING Forest District Council has repeated its call for the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels. Written directly to the Home Secretary Held an urgent meeting with Home Office officials Called upon local MPs to…...