On Sunday, the UK government pledged to reform its asylum system following nationwide protests outside hotels hosting migrants, with further demonstrations expected.
The government plans to create a new independent body to expedite appeals for failed asylum applications, aiming to end the expensive use of ‘asylum hotels,’ which have drawn public criticism.
On Friday, the Labour government announced it would challenge a court ruling preventing it from housing asylum seekers in a contentious hotel in southeast England.
This decision sparked protests and counter-protests at hotels across the UK accommodating asylum seekers.
Under the slogan “Abolish Asylum System,” demonstrations occurred on Saturday in cities including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Perth, and central London.
In Bristol, mounted police kept opposing groups apart, with officers clashing with protesters.
“Our officers handled a very challenging situation admirably,” said Keith Smith from Avon and Somerset Police.
“While there were disturbances, we’re pleased to report that both protests concluded without major incidents,” he added.
Eleven people were arrested for offenses such as disorderly conduct and assault at the Liverpool protest.
– Further protests anticipated –
The latest protest wave began outside a hotel in Epping, southeast England, following a resident’s charge of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Additional protests were scheduled for Sunday and Monday, a public holiday in the UK.
Recent data revealed 32,345 asylum seekers were temporarily housed in UK hotels at the end of March.
The government is working to reduce the backlog of initial asylum claims and court delays for appeals, which it identifies as the primary pressure on the asylum accommodation system.
“We inherited a chaotic asylum system with a growing backlog of cases and a flawed appeals process,” interior minister Yvette Cooper stated in a Sunday press release.
“We are committed to significantly lowering the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels… we cannot continue with these unacceptable delays in appeals,” she concluded.
