Three local men on Epping High Street claimed that Essex police used vans to bring in antiracism counter-demonstrators and had undercover officers among them. However, Essex police “categorically” denied these allegations, calling the idea of state-sponsored “false flag” provocateurs unfounded.
The protests in Epping, sparked by a charged asylum seeker, have attracted far-right activists who fuel misinformation about asylum seekers. Claims that police transported Stand Up to Racism protesters to the Bell hotel were quickly denied by police, who provided context about the protesters’ legitimate movement from the station.
Despite police rebuttals, figures like Nigel Farage and Dan Wootton continued to misrepresent the situation online, spreading misinformation quickly. Such disinformation has resulted in real-world consequences, as noted by activists like Lewis Nielsen from Stand Up to Racism.
Misinformed claims, including alleged shoplifting by asylum seekers and conspiracy theories about police involvement at protests, persist. Essex police are actively combating these myths, asserting that their involvement has been mischaracterized and denying any connection to protest organization.
