This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35397109
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 'U-turn' over Cardiff asylum seekers food wristbands | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A private company that provides meals for asylum seekers in Cardiff has said it will drop demands for them to wear wristbands as a condition for receiving food, according to local MP Jo Stevens. | A private company that provides meals for asylum seekers in Cardiff has said it will drop demands for them to wear wristbands as a condition for receiving food, according to local MP Jo Stevens. |
| The brightly coloured bands had been given to asylum seekers staying at Lynx House so they could claim meals. | The brightly coloured bands had been given to asylum seekers staying at Lynx House so they could claim meals. |
| But some called it dehumanising and said they had become targets for abuse. | But some called it dehumanising and said they had become targets for abuse. |
| It comes after asylum seekers in Middlesbrough said they were abused after their doors were painted red. | It comes after asylum seekers in Middlesbrough said they were abused after their doors were painted red. |
| A company housing the asylum seekers later said it would repaint the doors after concerns people were being singled out as immigrants. | A company housing the asylum seekers later said it would repaint the doors after concerns people were being singled out as immigrants. |
| Speaking to BBC Wales on Monday, Labour MP for Cardiff Central Ms Stevens said she had held a meeting with the Clearsprings Group - the company contracted by the Home Office to run accommodation services in Cardiff. | |
| She said the company confirmed it would be scrapping the wristband scheme and were looking at introducing photo-identity cards instead. | |
| "It looks like the pressure has resulted in the withdrawal of this scheme," she said. | |
| "This hopefully sees an end to what has been a pretty sorry episode for Cardiff, which is normally such a welcoming city. | |
| "We have a reputation for welcoming people from all over the world and I really wouldn't want that reputation to be spoilt by what's happened over the weekend." | |
| Earlier, 36-year-old refugee Eric Ngalle told BBC Wales he had spent nearly two months at Lynx House and challenged the need to wear the wrist bands but was unable to change the policy. | |
| He said he was told it was a Home Office directive, but added that none of the asylum seekers believed this explanation. | He said he was told it was a Home Office directive, but added that none of the asylum seekers believed this explanation. |
| He said he felt having to wear the wristbands was "labelling" and "stressful". | He said he felt having to wear the wristbands was "labelling" and "stressful". |
| Chloe Marong, who works at the Trinity Centre in Cardiff which provides support for asylum seekers, said many people were unhappy about the wristbands. | |
| She told BBC Wales she thought the treatment was dehumanising and left people vulnerable to abuse. | She told BBC Wales she thought the treatment was dehumanising and left people vulnerable to abuse. |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said the Home Office should face "serious questions" about the situation. | |
| The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, added: "I find it very hard to understand how a system like this could ever be deemed appropriate and frankly I'm shocked and appalled." | |
| Clearsprings Ready Homes told the Guardian its policy had come in the face of an increase in asylum seekers. | |
| A spokesman said: "Volumes of people in initial accommodation sites, including Cardiff (have) increased quickly. Clearsprings has taken steps, agreed with the Home Office, to increase capacity in line with this demand in the form of additional self-catering accommodation. | A spokesman said: "Volumes of people in initial accommodation sites, including Cardiff (have) increased quickly. Clearsprings has taken steps, agreed with the Home Office, to increase capacity in line with this demand in the form of additional self-catering accommodation. |
| "Those clients in the self-catering units receive a weekly allowance in the form of supermarket vouchers and those in full-board accommodation are issued with a coloured wristband that bears no other logo or text identifying its use or origin. | "Those clients in the self-catering units receive a weekly allowance in the form of supermarket vouchers and those in full-board accommodation are issued with a coloured wristband that bears no other logo or text identifying its use or origin. |
| "Full-board clients are required to show their wristbands in order to receive meals in the restaurant." | "Full-board clients are required to show their wristbands in order to receive meals in the restaurant." |
| Have you sought asylum in the UK? Do you provide services for asylum seekers in the UK? Let us know your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you sought asylum in the UK? Do you provide services for asylum seekers in the UK? Let us know your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |