Fears for asylum seekers in Croydon hotels over reports of ‘extremely hostile’ behaviour

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

There are fears things are “getting worse” for asylum seekers living in Croydon hotels, some of whom have been there for nearly two years.

Adam Yasir, co-founder of the Croydon Refugee Forum, claims things in the hotels have become “hostile” and he fears people aren’t getting the support they need as local charities can’t access them.

At the largest of three hotels being used by the Home Office in the borough, there are currently more than 500 people living there.

Mr Yasir said: “They have been extremely hostile and shady, banning charities from going in. It is overcrowded with two or three in a room, some rooms have been split into three for people to live in.

“There is an issue of people not receiving the support from charities because the charities aren’t being allowed to be involved.”

He claims this has been happening since September when more asylum seekers were moved into the hotel.

There are two other hotels in Croydon that are used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers and the volunteer said conditions are “equally bad” there.

He added: “Staff there are underpaid and inadequately trained. They rely on using intimidation tactics. I am really concerned that staff have become extremely hostile. It won’t stop me helping but it is an obstacle.

“People are neglected and I think it is getting worse. We need to find an alternative to hotels, we want them to be housed adequately.”

In the main hotel, some people live three to a room, including in windowless basement rooms.

Under immigration rules, they are barred from working and are given around £40 a week, with meals provided at the hotels.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

“The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6million a day.

“The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.”

Pictured top: Lunar House in Croydon, which houses the headquarters of UK Visas and Immigration, a division of the Home Office (Picture: PA)