In total, six people have been charged with offences related to the disorder
in Epping, following further clashes between demonstrators and police on Sunday.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “We have a reasonable duty to protect people who want to exercise their rights.
“In terms of bringing people to the hotel, the police have a duty to facilitate free assembly. We would only ever take people away from protest if we felt there was an immediate threat to people or property, to free up police resources, to protect others, or to prevent additional violence.
“In Epping, officers took all three of those into account before making their decisions.”
Residents said the decision to escort counter-protesters, some of whom were masked, towards the hotel had made violence inevitable.
Footage shared on social media suggested the confrontation escalated shortly after the arrival of the counter-demonstrators, with objects reportedly thrown and minor injuries sustained.
Orla Minihane, a leader of the anti-migrant protests and a Reform UK council candidate, said that locals – many of whom said they were there because they wanted women and girls
to be safe going out alone – felt police were almost forcing a “confrontation” between the two groups.