Ben-Julian Harrington, chief constable of Essex police, said on Wednesday that people had to make “responsible” comments after the Reform UK leader accused his force of helping leftwing protesters attend a demonstration against the use of the Bell hotel for irregular migrants.

Essex Police has strongly denied claims by Nigel Farage it "bussed" counter-demonstrators to a protest outside a migrant hotel in Epping. The Reform UK leader had called for the force's chief constable to resign over the accusations.

Nigel Farage has raged at Essex Police’s treatment of pro-migrant demonstrators in Epping. Tensions erupted on Tuesday evening with protesters on both sides of the debate demonstrating outside a hotel in Epping used to house asylum seekers.