Police chiefs have warned that Britain could face a summer of violent unrest (Image: Getty)

       Police chiefs have warned that Britain could face a summer of violent unrest as officers are pulled from local beats to tackle rising protests over migration.

       Tiff Lynch, chair of the Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said that already stretched forces were being “pulled in every direction” as they attempt to respond to growing anti-migrant demonstrations across the country. Writing in The Telegraph, she described recent protests in Epping, Essex, as a “signal flare” of what could come.

       Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       POLL: Should all migrant hotels be shut? Vote now

       289 Comments

       Home Office orders migrant boats to new UK seaside town to 'avoid protesters'

       691 Comments

       Trump's UK visit sparks outrage as police threatened with legal action

       124 Comments

       Chief constable's decision to allow police in Pride march ruled as breach of impartiality

       21 Comments

       I was paralysed by a terrorist as a police officer - we're left on the empty pile

       6 Comments

       Police issue major update on UK town riots after migrant charged with child sex offence

       Comments

       Ethiopian asylum seeker 'sexually assaulted girl, 14, days after arriving in UK'

       Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Nigel Farage explodes as 'police escort woke Antifa' mob - 'heads must roll'

       655 Comments

       Fury as police chief defends cops who escorted pro-migrant protesters: 'Vacuous rubbish!'

       Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Police admit escorting pro-migrant protesters to asylum hotel before violent clashes

       875 Comments

       Epping hotel riot was sparked by one thing - and it wasn't the police

       20 Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Fury as hundreds of hotel asylum seekers charged as part of shocking 3-year crime spree

       1026 Comments

       Epping migrant protest update as cops break silence after protester hit by police van

       Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       POLL: Should all migrant hotels be shut? Vote now

       289 Comments

       Home Office orders migrant boats to new UK seaside town to 'avoid protesters'

       691 Comments

       Trump's UK visit sparks outrage as police threatened with legal action

       124 Comments

       Chief constable's decision to allow police in Pride march ruled as breach of impartiality

       21 Comments

       I was paralysed by a terrorist as a police officer - we're left on the empty pile

       6 Comments

       Police issue major update on UK town riots after migrant charged with child sex offence

       Comments

       Ethiopian asylum seeker 'sexually assaulted girl, 14, days after arriving in UK'

       Comments

       Nigel Farage explodes as 'police escort woke Antifa' mob - 'heads must roll'

       655 Comments

       Fury as police chief defends cops who escorted pro-migrant protesters: 'Vacuous rubbish!'

       Comments

       Police admit escorting pro-migrant protesters to asylum hotel before violent clashes

       875 Comments

       Epping hotel riot was sparked by one thing - and it wasn't the police

       20 Comments

       Fury as hundreds of hotel asylum seekers charged as part of shocking 3-year crime spree

       1026 Comments

       Epping migrant protest update as cops break silence after protester hit by police van

       Comments

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       Police commanders, she said, were being forced to make tough decisions, having to “choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps” amid increasing pressure on manpower.

       The warnings come after protests outside asylum hotels turned violent in recent days, with more demonstrations expected in the coming weeks. Officers will now be diverted from neighbourhood duties to support the policing of mass protests – a move the Federation fears could leave communities exposed.

       Read more: 'Epping hotel riot was sparked by one thing - it wasn't the police'

       Read more: 'Epping is crisis boiling over before our eyes – Yvette Cooper must act'

       Dangerous assumptions

       Although Ms Lynch said officers would cope, she admitted that expecting them to “hold the line indefinitely” would be “dangerous to assume”.

       Sponsored

       Disability Benefit | Search Ads | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Virginia Consultants Guide Disability Applications

       Undo

       “Local commanders are once again being forced to choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps,” she said. “It would be comical if it weren’t so serious – and so familiar.”

       The warning follows criticism of Essex Police, who escorted anti-racism protesters to the Bell Hotel in Epping, where violence erupted. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, accused the force of having “directly facilitated the unrest we saw” and said: “Heads must roll.”

       Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington has refused to resign over the incident. He defended the actions of his officers, insisting they were only protecting “lawful and law-abiding people” and that it was the “irresponsible and criminal behaviour” of a minority that led to the violence.

       Residents who had gathered peacefully to protest claimed the violence was inevitable after police brought counter-protesters into close proximity with the crowd.

       Nigel Farage posts video about Epping counter protesters

       More Videos

       0 seconds of 1 minute, 13 seconds Volume 0%

       Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled

       Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?

       Play/Pause SPACE

       Increase Volume ↑

       Decrease Volume ↓

       Seek Forward →

       Seek Backward ←

       Captions On/Off c

       Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f

       Mute/Unmute m

       Decrease Caption Size -

       Increase Caption Size + or =

       Seek % 0-9

       Next Up

       Canary Wharf locals share concerns about migrant hotel

       06:13

       x facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/5jde6K8F Copied

       Auto270p 1080p 720p 540p 360p 270p 180p

       Live

       00:13

       01:00

       01:13

       More Videos

       Close

       Record low police

       Official Home Office data shows the number of officers involved in local policing has fallen sharply, from a peak of 67,785 in 2023 to just 58,002 in 2025 – a record low.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       POLL: Should all migrant hotels be shut? Vote now

       289 Comments

       Home Office orders migrant boats to new UK seaside town to 'avoid protesters'

       691 Comments

       Trump's UK visit sparks outrage as police threatened with legal action

       124 Comments

       Chief constable's decision to allow police in Pride march ruled as breach of impartiality

       21 Comments

       I was paralysed by a terrorist as a police officer - we're left on the empty pile

       6 Comments

       Police issue major update on UK town riots after migrant charged with child sex offence

       Comments

       Ethiopian asylum seeker 'sexually assaulted girl, 14, days after arriving in UK'

       Comments

       She Had No Idea Why Boyfriend Wanted Her To Shower Twice Daily, Until She Me...BimBamBam | Sponsored Sponsored

       Read More

       Undo

       Nigel Farage explodes as 'police escort woke Antifa' mob - 'heads must roll'

       655 Comments

       Fury as police chief defends cops who escorted pro-migrant protesters: 'Vacuous rubbish!'

       Comments

       The most accurate CGM for confident decisions in the moment.Dexcom | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Police admit escorting pro-migrant protesters to asylum hotel before violent clashes

       875 Comments

       Epping hotel riot was sparked by one thing - and it wasn't the police

       20 Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Fury as hundreds of hotel asylum seekers charged as part of shocking 3-year crime spree

       1026 Comments

       Epping migrant protest update as cops break silence after protester hit by police van

       Comments

       Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It?Brain Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Experts Link This Common Food to Memory Loss and Dementia (See story)Memory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Woman puts banana peel on her arm. You won't believe what happened next!Good to know this | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pour some vinegar on your feet and a few hours later you will have THIS result!Good to know this | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       POLL: Should all migrant hotels be shut? Vote now

       289 Comments

       This Farmer Decided to Teach Illegal Parkers A LessonTips and Tricks | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Home Office orders migrant boats to new UK seaside town to 'avoid protesters'

       691 Comments

       Trump's UK visit sparks outrage as police threatened with legal action

       124 Comments

       Watch A.I. Remove Plastic Surgery And Unveil Celebrity Natural FacesBim Bam Bam | Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Chief constable's decision to allow police in Pride march ruled as breach of impartiality

       21 Comments

       I was paralysed by a terrorist as a police officer - we're left on the empty pile

       6 Comments

       Experts Urge Seniors With Memory Loss To Take This Key Nutrient DailyMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Police issue major update on UK town riots after migrant charged with child sex offence

       Comments

       Ethiopian asylum seeker 'sexually assaulted girl, 14, days after arriving in UK'

       Comments

       Nigel Farage explodes as 'police escort woke Antifa' mob - 'heads must roll'

       655 Comments

       Fury as police chief defends cops who escorted pro-migrant protesters: 'Vacuous rubbish!'

       Comments

       Police admit escorting pro-migrant protesters to asylum hotel before violent clashes

       875 Comments

       Epping hotel riot was sparked by one thing - and it wasn't the police

       20 Comments

       Fury as hundreds of hotel asylum seekers charged as part of shocking 3-year crime spree

       1026 Comments

       Epping migrant protest update as cops break silence after protester hit by police van

       Comments

       Riot police on standby as Tommy Robinson set to join Essex migrant protests

       438 Comments

       Epping asylum protest triggers police crackdown as top cop issues blunt 3-word verdict

       Comments

       Migrant hotel ‘must be closed' warns council leader as Tommy Robinson threatens protest

       243 Comments

       Angela Rayner warns of public anger over immigration as riot fears intensify

       127 Comments

       Furious protesters clash with cops outside migrant hotel as fireworks and eggs thrown

       Comments

       Shocking moment protesters attack police vans outside migrant hotel

       Comments

       Pride rainbows taken off police cars and officers banned from march in uniform

       59 Comments

       Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habi...Brain Health

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Experts Link This Common Food to Memory Los...Memory Health

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Woman puts banana peel on her arm. You wo...Good to know this

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Pour some vinegar on your feet and a few hou...Good to know this

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Ms Lynch warned that cuts and a failure to modernise public order policing were putting officers at risk. Referring to last year’s Southport riots, she said: “The gaps were plain to see: mutual aid stripped to the bone, co-ordination between forces lacking, and a total failure to anticipate how disorder is now sparked and fuelled online. Officers were left to face missiles with little more than a shield and a short briefing. The risks were there in black and white – yet little has improved since.”

       Labour has pledged to put 3,000 more bobbies on the beat by spring next year. The party has also promised dedicated neighbourhood teams in every community.

       From this month, all forces are expected to guarantee regular patrols in town centres and other “hotspot” areas during peak times, such as Friday and Saturday nights and market days in rural locations.

       Read Next

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy