France, Aug. 12 -- Protests over asylum seeker accommodation have intensified in England, coinciding with the launch of a new UK-France deal to return migrants crossing the Channel on small boats.

For the past three weeks, Epping- a market town of 11,000, north-east of London - has found itself at the heart of Britain's simmering immigration debate.

What began with the arrest of a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker, accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl, has spiralled into protests across England, far-right mobilisation and mounting fears of wider unrest.

The man was reportedly charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence, sparkingimm...