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Investigation prompts rapid upgrades to asylum seekers' homes Investigation prompts rapid upgrades to asylum seekers' homes
(about 4 hours later)
Hundreds of asylum seekers crammed into a network of “guest houses” provided by a Home Office contractor that are overrun by cockroaches, rats and mice have seen a raft of improvements in the past few days after the Guardian exposed their dire living conditions.Hundreds of asylum seekers crammed into a network of “guest houses” provided by a Home Office contractor that are overrun by cockroaches, rats and mice have seen a raft of improvements in the past few days after the Guardian exposed their dire living conditions.
The accommodation, used by the government to house asylum seekers, had been inspected by Home Office officials as recently as May but little remedial action was taken, leading critics to condemn the government’s inspection regime. The Home Office confirmed on Tuesday night that it was taking “urgent action” to improve the facilities. Asylum seekers living at the Maharaja Guest House in Southall, west London have seen a raft of improvements in the past few days.
MP Diane Abbott said: “It beggars belief that inspectors hadn’t identified these horrible conditions earlier, but this has become the culture of the Tory Home Office. From the Windrush scandal to international students being wrongly deported, it seems that action isn’t taken until it is exposed by the media. This is not the way to run a government department.” The accommodation, used by the government to house asylum seekers and managed by contractor Clearsprings Ready Homes, was inspected by Home Office officials as recently as May and was inspected again last week shortly after the Guardian expose was published. Ealing council announced it would be issuing notices to inspect all the properties as soon as possible.
A Home Office spokesperson told the Guardian: “We are taking urgent action to ensure the provider is meeting the terms of their contract.”
It is understood that the Home Office inspectors have identified defects in their inspection last week and that officials are now conducting a full audit of the accommodation provider’s systems to identify what it has done to rectify any faults.
The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, condemned the Home Office’s inspection regime: “It beggars belief that inspectors hadn’t identified these horrible conditions earlier, but this has become the culture of the Tory Home Office. From the Windrush scandal to international students being wrongly deported, it seems that action isn’t taken until it is exposed by the media. This is not the way to run a government department.”
Graham O’Neill, the policy manager at the Scottish Refugee Council who has investigated Home Office accommodation UK-wide, said the inspection regime was broken and called on the Home Office to apologise to the asylum seekers for the conditions they had been forced to live in.Graham O’Neill, the policy manager at the Scottish Refugee Council who has investigated Home Office accommodation UK-wide, said the inspection regime was broken and called on the Home Office to apologise to the asylum seekers for the conditions they had been forced to live in.
Footage recorded by the Guardian which revealed that families of four were sharing small double beds and squeezed into spaces so small they are barely able to walk around their rooms. Lawyers who viewed the film said the conditions breached human rights legislation and could constitute statutory overcrowding and an environment unfit for human habitation.Footage recorded by the Guardian which revealed that families of four were sharing small double beds and squeezed into spaces so small they are barely able to walk around their rooms. Lawyers who viewed the film said the conditions breached human rights legislation and could constitute statutory overcrowding and an environment unfit for human habitation.
Shortly after the article was publisheda group of Home Office inspectors arrived to look at conditions at the Maharaja guest house in Southall, west London. Ealing council announced it would be issuing notices to inspect all the properties as soon as possible.
Work carried out in the past few days includes deep cleaning and disinfecting to try to eradicate the cockroaches, mice and rats, the replacement of old carpets, provision of new beds, bedding and crockery provided, repairs to holes in the walls and the relocation of some asylum seekers from smaller rooms to larger ones. Previously there was one washing machine for everyone to use meaning some people had to wait for weeks to use it. Now at least eight new washing machines have been installed.Work carried out in the past few days includes deep cleaning and disinfecting to try to eradicate the cockroaches, mice and rats, the replacement of old carpets, provision of new beds, bedding and crockery provided, repairs to holes in the walls and the relocation of some asylum seekers from smaller rooms to larger ones. Previously there was one washing machine for everyone to use meaning some people had to wait for weeks to use it. Now at least eight new washing machines have been installed.
The asylum seekers have welcomed the rapid changes, but have asked why their complaints were not responded to previously. One woman said she had been asking managers for two years to be moved to a larger room but her pleas had fallen on deaf ears.The asylum seekers have welcomed the rapid changes, but have asked why their complaints were not responded to previously. One woman said she had been asking managers for two years to be moved to a larger room but her pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
The managing company, Mylondonlets.co.uk, advertises rooms priced from £40 per night. The company is paid to house asylum seekers by the Home Office’s accommodation contractor for Wales and the south of England, Clearsprings Ready Homes.The managing company, Mylondonlets.co.uk, advertises rooms priced from £40 per night. The company is paid to house asylum seekers by the Home Office’s accommodation contractor for Wales and the south of England, Clearsprings Ready Homes.
In its investigation into Home Office accommodation published in January 2017, the home affairs select committee found many problems with vermin, unclean surroundings and inadequate support for vulnerable people.In its investigation into Home Office accommodation published in January 2017, the home affairs select committee found many problems with vermin, unclean surroundings and inadequate support for vulnerable people.
The department has just published a booklet for asylum seekers outlining what they can expect in their accommodation. Some told the Guardian they were warned not to complain about their conditions or this would be reported to the Home Office and could have a negative impact on their asylum claim. The booklet states: “Your asylum claim … will not be affected by reporting an issue or problem.”The department has just published a booklet for asylum seekers outlining what they can expect in their accommodation. Some told the Guardian they were warned not to complain about their conditions or this would be reported to the Home Office and could have a negative impact on their asylum claim. The booklet states: “Your asylum claim … will not be affected by reporting an issue or problem.”
An official report published last November into standards of asylum seeker accommodation found that the Home Office’s contract compliance team had just nine officials to inspect 1,691 initial accommodation bed spaces and 11,719 dispersed accommodation bed spaces. Of 8,313 properties inspected over nearly two years, just 1,988 – 24% – were compliant, with 43% assessed as “not fit for purpose” or “urgent”.
O’Neill said: “This accommodation in Southall was clearly in an unacceptable state. Any system that leaves anyone in these conditions has failed. Both Clearsprings and Home Office inspectors went out to see this accommodation but still left people in it.O’Neill said: “This accommodation in Southall was clearly in an unacceptable state. Any system that leaves anyone in these conditions has failed. Both Clearsprings and Home Office inspectors went out to see this accommodation but still left people in it.
“We need three things to happen: these people to be given safe living conditions, a public Home Office and Clearsprings apology and a recognition that the Home Office inspection regime is broken. We urge the National Audit Office to conduct an inquiry to repair this failed inspection system so that it fulfils its purpose: to protect those seeking asylum from conditions like this.”“We need three things to happen: these people to be given safe living conditions, a public Home Office and Clearsprings apology and a recognition that the Home Office inspection regime is broken. We urge the National Audit Office to conduct an inquiry to repair this failed inspection system so that it fulfils its purpose: to protect those seeking asylum from conditions like this.”
The Home Office has been approached for comment. The Home Office spokesperson added: “The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and we demand the highest standards from our contractors and their accommodation.”
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
HousingHousing
LondonLondon
Home OfficeHome Office
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