London – Sputnik. The British government announced last June its intention to close all asylum seeker hotels before the next general election, expected to be held by 2029. Critics believe that the issue of these hotels, often located in city centers and thought to contribute to rising crime rates, should be urgently addressed. The Interior Minister emphasized the need to expedite the processing of applications and to return a greater number of refugees to their home countries. She added that the Interior Ministry would temporarily house them with their families during the reorganization period. Meanwhile, the government will continue to extend the special visa program for Ukrainian refugees. Cooper confirmed that the program will be extended for an additional 24 months after it was extended last July for 18 months, granting Ukrainians the right to work in the country. In late August, the Home Office won an appeal against a temporary decision to ban housing refugees in The Bell Hotel in the Epping area near London, after local authorities filed a lawsuit to close the hotel in the High Court. The local authorities justified their request by citing a “clear risk of escalating tensions within the community” and that the practice does not conform with urban planning regulations. Following Epping Council’s success, many regional authorities announced plans to take similar actions. Meanwhile, Home Office lawyers warned that closing hotels would “significantly” impact their ability to fulfill their legal duties to protect refugees and could “fuel violence and protests.” The area witnessed disturbances last July following the trial of a 38-year-old migrant accused of rape. Hundreds of protesters repeatedly gathered outside The Bell Hotel, leading to clashes with police and several arrests. In late July, Epping authorities called on the British government to close hotels where migrants are detained. Illegal migrants continually attempt to find any means to reach Britain and obtain refugee status that allows them to benefit from financial aid and social programs. In 2024, over 36,800 migrants arrived in the UK illegally via the English Channel by boat, a quarter increase compared to the previous year. The record was set in 2022, when over 45,700 migrants reached British shores. It is estimated that British authorities spend millions of pounds daily to house asylum seekers in hotels.
