Dozens of refugees ‘left on the streets’ in Westminster for 2 nights
S
uella Braverman has been requested to “urgently clarify” why a big group of asylum seekers have been “left on the street” in Westminster for 2 nights.
In a letter to the Home Secretary, the chief of Westminster City Council expressed his “deep concern” that round 40 refugees have been positioned within the borough on Wednesday night time “without appropriate accommodation or support available” and no prior communication with the native authority.
The group apparently refused to enter a Pimlico resort the place the Home Office had requested them to sleep “four people per room”.
When coping with a bunch of individuals the place lots of whom are more likely to have been by vital and traumatic occasions which have led them to hunt asylum, asking them to share an inappropriately-sized room with a number of strangers defies frequent sense and fundamental decency
On Friday morning, round 20 folks have been nonetheless camped outdoors the Comfort Inn in protest on the cramped circumstances inside, based on the council.
Sat in doorways and on the ground, many of the people have been wearing tracksuit bottoms and thick jackets regardless of the nice and cozy climate.
Items scattered on the pavement included suitcases, sleeping baggage and even trays of meals.
The group later briefly stood in the midst of Belgrave Road blocking site visitors, earlier than being escorted to the pavement by Met Police officers.
A spokesperson for the pressure stated officers have been “engaging with those involved and remain at the location in order to prevent any breach of the peace”.
On Friday afternoon, after officers had left the scene, asylum seekers went into the resort to talk with a consultant from the Home Office.
It was unclear whether or not an settlement had been reached, and the division declined to remark.
In his letter to Mrs Braverman, council chief Adam Hug complained that asking individuals who “are likely to have been through significant and traumatic events” to share “an inappropriately-sized room with multiple strangers defies common sense and basic decency”.
He stated the Government’s demand created “safeguarding and health risks”, and famous that “leaving them on the street for multiple nights is not an alternative”.
In his letter to Ms Braverman on Thursday, he wrote: “Neither the Home Office nor the hotel itself responded to this incident, ultimately leaving it to council officers to manage and support this large group overnight. I would ask that you urgently clarify how this was allowed to happen, why this was acceptable, and why no communication was made with the local authority to alert us.
It is not right, nor is it in the interest of these individuals – or our residents – to have them forced to endure a night on the streets because their transition into new accommodation has not been properly managed
“I note that the issue is still unresolved and, as of Thursday evening, all 40 asylum seekers remain on the street. This is not acceptable.
“It is not right, nor is it in the interest of these individuals – or our residents – to have them forced to endure a night on the streets because their transition into new accommodation has not been properly managed.”
Rough sleeping groups have been supporting the refugees, based on the council, which claimed the Home Office had not put ahead any decision to the matter.
A Home Office spokesman stated: “Despite the number of people arriving in the UK reaching record levels, we continue to provide accommodation – at a cost of £6 million a day – for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, to meet our legal obligation.
“The accommodation offered to asylum seekers by providers, on a no-choice basis, is of a decent standard and meets all legal and contractual requirements.”