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| Glasgow asylum seekers moved into hotels where distancing is 'impossible' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Firm stops allowances of hundreds of people after telling them to pack up their flats with an hour’s notice | |
| Hundreds of asylum seekers in Glasgow have been given less than an hour’s notice to pack up their flats before being moved into city centre hotels, where they claim social distancing is “impossible”. | Hundreds of asylum seekers in Glasgow have been given less than an hour’s notice to pack up their flats before being moved into city centre hotels, where they claim social distancing is “impossible”. |
| They have also had all financial support withdrawn, apparently because the hotels provide three meals a day, basic toiletries and a laundry service, in a move condemned by campaigners. | They have also had all financial support withdrawn, apparently because the hotels provide three meals a day, basic toiletries and a laundry service, in a move condemned by campaigners. |
| The Guardian understands that the private housing provider Mears, which is subcontracted by the Home Office, has moved more than 300 people from mainly self-contained apartments into hotels over the past 10 days. | The Guardian understands that the private housing provider Mears, which is subcontracted by the Home Office, has moved more than 300 people from mainly self-contained apartments into hotels over the past 10 days. |
| Although this group is made up mainly of single men, it includes a family with a young toddler, people assessed as potential survivors of trafficking and a heavily pregnant woman, the Guardian believes. | |
| The Guardian has spoken to a number of those who were moved suddenly, on condition of anonymity. They say their situation is “almost like prison”, with strictly enforced meal collection times, no access to food or drink outside those hours, other than water, and some say they cannot open their bedroom windows. | The Guardian has spoken to a number of those who were moved suddenly, on condition of anonymity. They say their situation is “almost like prison”, with strictly enforced meal collection times, no access to food or drink outside those hours, other than water, and some say they cannot open their bedroom windows. |
| One man, S, said he was given 30 minutes to pack up the flat where he had been living since he arrived in Scotland from Saudi Arabia five months ago. “They didn’t give me any information, but said it was on the orders of the Home Office. Nobody knows how long we will be here.” | One man, S, said he was given 30 minutes to pack up the flat where he had been living since he arrived in Scotland from Saudi Arabia five months ago. “They didn’t give me any information, but said it was on the orders of the Home Office. Nobody knows how long we will be here.” |
| He added: “Everyone here is feeling bad, and worried about the virus. There is no social distancing in the meals area and all the food is uncovered. I would like to buy some juice or fruit for my room but they told me my [Home Office issued] card won’t work anymore”. | He added: “Everyone here is feeling bad, and worried about the virus. There is no social distancing in the meals area and all the food is uncovered. I would like to buy some juice or fruit for my room but they told me my [Home Office issued] card won’t work anymore”. |
| Another, M, said: “It’s impossible not to get close to people when you’re in the lift or getting your food, and there are two bottles of hand sanitiser among 80 people. There are many Muslims here and Ramadan begins in two days. The evening meal stops at 8pm, so what happens when we start fasting?” | Another, M, said: “It’s impossible not to get close to people when you’re in the lift or getting your food, and there are two bottles of hand sanitiser among 80 people. There are many Muslims here and Ramadan begins in two days. The evening meal stops at 8pm, so what happens when we start fasting?” |
| While outreach workers say Mears has promised to make arrangements for those fasting, and provide prayer mats, none of the asylum seekers to whom the Guardian spoke had been told this. | While outreach workers say Mears has promised to make arrangements for those fasting, and provide prayer mats, none of the asylum seekers to whom the Guardian spoke had been told this. |
| Although the hotels have wifi, support workers point out that without cash, people cannot top up their phones to continue communication with lawyers, or buy extra food or hand sanitiser. | Although the hotels have wifi, support workers point out that without cash, people cannot top up their phones to continue communication with lawyers, or buy extra food or hand sanitiser. |
| Gary Christie, head of policy at the Scottish Refugee Council, said: “People tell us they’ve been moved into hotels at very short notice and without a proper explanation of why they’re being moved, how long for, or what will happen next. It’s confusing and frightening and raises serious concerns about how the Home Office communicates and shares vital information”. | Gary Christie, head of policy at the Scottish Refugee Council, said: “People tell us they’ve been moved into hotels at very short notice and without a proper explanation of why they’re being moved, how long for, or what will happen next. It’s confusing and frightening and raises serious concerns about how the Home Office communicates and shares vital information”. |
| “People can’t stay in hotels forever. We need to know how the Home Office plans to accommodate people when lockdown restrictions ease, so charities, local authorities and other partners can support any further moves. We’re also really concerned that people in hotels are not receiving cash support that’s needed for phone top-ups and other essentials.” | “People can’t stay in hotels forever. We need to know how the Home Office plans to accommodate people when lockdown restrictions ease, so charities, local authorities and other partners can support any further moves. We’re also really concerned that people in hotels are not receiving cash support that’s needed for phone top-ups and other essentials.” |
| The vast majority of those moved are either new arrivals, some of whom have been in the system for months awaiting decisions on their substantive asylum claim, or those who cannot return to their county of origin because of the pandemic. They were previously receiving financial support either in cash or through a payment card. | The vast majority of those moved are either new arrivals, some of whom have been in the system for months awaiting decisions on their substantive asylum claim, or those who cannot return to their county of origin because of the pandemic. They were previously receiving financial support either in cash or through a payment card. |
| Mears and the Home Office have been approached for comment. | Mears and the Home Office have been approached for comment. |