25/11/2022 - Concern about welfare of asylum seekers in Luton

The extreme additional pressure this is placing on public services that are already under immense strain is unacceptable.

The Home Office is putting the welfare of vulnerable people at risk by placing them in accommodation that is completely unsuitable.

Luton has been, and will always be a caring and compassionate town with our communities, voluntary sector partners and public sector organisations stepping up and pulling out all the stops to support those seeking sanctuary in this country after fleeing conflict, disaster, discrimination and dangerous war zones across the world.

However, it is abundantly clear that this compassion is being abused as there is a disproportionately high number of asylum seekers being placed by the Home Office in Luton compared to other places across the country.

We have spoken to the Home Office about this on numerous occasions, and while they admit this is true and say they understand the pressure this is putting on the local system, they continue to choose our town over other areas. Luton represents just over three per cent of the East of England population yet is currently hosting 24 per cent of asylum seekers placed in hotels in the region. This does not include refugees and asylum seekers we are already hosting in other forms of accommodation.

It is completely unfair on these vulnerable individuals who are placed here with little support and then told to rely on local services that are almost at breaking point following years of austerity, the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

The failure of the Home Office to respond leaves us with no realistic option to defend the welfare and rights of both asylum seekers and our community other than legal action.

Around four fifths of asylum seekers have their rights to citizenship recognised so it is even more scandalous that people who could and want to be making a positive contribution to our society are forced into limbo in unsafe and overcrowded accommodation.

There is an urgent need for properly coordinated national solutions to this problem that don't cause additional human suffering to people seeking sanctuary and don't unfairly burden some communities.