South London councils condemn Home Office treatment of asylum seekers

South London councils have co-signed a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to condemn the treatment of asylum seekers living in hotels across the country.

The letter comes after 100 people were removed from a hotel in Greenwich and transferred to Dunstable, Bedfordshire, more than 50 miles away, earlier this month.

The letter urges the Government to take immediate action to prevent further suffering.

It sets out four key areas of improvement regarding the treatment of asylum seekers in hotels, including stopping the removal of people at only an hour’s notice, improved communication and transparency with local authorities, ensuring basic needs are met and finding a permanent housing solution for people stuck in hotels.

The letter, led by Greenwich council, has been co-signed by Hammersmith and Fulham, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster city councils.

Local authorities have no control over the management or running of hotels housing asylum seekers as this is under the jurisdiction of the Home Office and its contractors.

Greenwich councillor Denise Scott-McDonald, a lead signatory, said: “The removal of asylum seekers goes completely against our principles as a borough that welcomes refugees and migrants.

“That’s why we have been trying to meet and work with the Home Office to find an alternative solution.

“Many people who have been moved or are waiting to be moved have told us they are incredibly frightened.

“While we appreciate that the Home Office is discharging its duty to provide accommodation to those seeking asylum, there must be a better way of doing it than this.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Lewisham College students show their support for fellow pupils who were taken out of the hotel in Greenwich (Picture: Lewisham and Southwark University and College Union)