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Boston has thousands of unrecorded migrants, council claims | Boston has thousands of unrecorded migrants, council claims |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Lincolnshire council claims it needs extra money from central government because about 10,000 unrecorded migrants are living in its borough. | A Lincolnshire council claims it needs extra money from central government because about 10,000 unrecorded migrants are living in its borough. |
About 65,000 people live in Boston according to the 2011 census, but Boston Borough Council claims the real figure could be as high as 77,000. | About 65,000 people live in Boston according to the 2011 census, but Boston Borough Council claims the real figure could be as high as 77,000. |
The population has risen from about 56,000 in 2001, and the council says services are under pressure. | The population has risen from about 56,000 in 2001, and the council says services are under pressure. |
But the government says it must prove the population figures are wrong. | But the government says it must prove the population figures are wrong. |
Conservative councillor Mike Gilbert said doing so would be "very difficult". | Conservative councillor Mike Gilbert said doing so would be "very difficult". |
"It's a bit like looking for the God particle," he said. | "It's a bit like looking for the God particle," he said. |
"You need to use a range of different statistical records. It's a case of triangulating those different figures to try and get a more accurate figure which is going to satisfy the government." | "You need to use a range of different statistical records. It's a case of triangulating those different figures to try and get a more accurate figure which is going to satisfy the government." |
Immigration protest | Immigration protest |
The most recent census suggested that Boston has the largest proportion of non-British EU passport holders outside of London - with 12.1% of Boston residents holding such passports. | The most recent census suggested that Boston has the largest proportion of non-British EU passport holders outside of London - with 12.1% of Boston residents holding such passports. |
The Lincolnshire average was 3.5%. | The Lincolnshire average was 3.5%. |
Many people originally migrated to Boston to do seasonal agricultural work, and there are now established eastern European communities. | |
UKIP took 16 seats off the Conservatives in Lincolnshire's local elections earlier this year, which some attributed to concerns about the rising migrant population. | UKIP took 16 seats off the Conservatives in Lincolnshire's local elections earlier this year, which some attributed to concerns about the rising migrant population. |
A protest to highlight the pressure placed on local services by immigration was held in Boston in November. | A protest to highlight the pressure placed on local services by immigration was held in Boston in November. |
Brandon Lewis, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government, visited Boston this week to see the impact of immigration on local services. | Brandon Lewis, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government, visited Boston this week to see the impact of immigration on local services. |
He said more money could be made available if the council could prove the migrant population was larger than official figures. | He said more money could be made available if the council could prove the migrant population was larger than official figures. |
Some community leaders believe the official statistics may be missing migrants who live in multiple occupancy households. | Some community leaders believe the official statistics may be missing migrants who live in multiple occupancy households. |
Ziedonis Barbaks, from the Latvian Community of Boston Stronger Together, said: "I'm not sure about the 10,000 [figure] but it's hundreds and hundreds of people around Boston. | Ziedonis Barbaks, from the Latvian Community of Boston Stronger Together, said: "I'm not sure about the 10,000 [figure] but it's hundreds and hundreds of people around Boston. |
"They are living in like 10 or more people in one house." | "They are living in like 10 or more people in one house." |
Centrepoint, a homelessness charity in Boston, believes some rough sleepers could be missing from the statistics. | Centrepoint, a homelessness charity in Boston, believes some rough sleepers could be missing from the statistics. |
Chief executive Liz Hopkins said: "Last month in our drop-in centre we saw 41 people who presented themselves as being homeless, and of those, 80% were foreign nationals." | Chief executive Liz Hopkins said: "Last month in our drop-in centre we saw 41 people who presented themselves as being homeless, and of those, 80% were foreign nationals." |
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