Unionist politicians have requested investigations into hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers, following a case in England
The latest UK Home Office figures for the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels show a breakdown by council area.
The offiicial figures, which show the situation as of June 30, indicate that there are zero asylum seekers living in hotels in most areas of Northern Ireland – including Belfast.
This comes as unionist politicians seek “investigations” into the planning status of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers in three local council areas.
READ MORE: UK “broken” immigration system creating tensions in Northern Ireland, Stormont minister saysREAD MORE: Chimney Corner Hotel ‘enforcement investigation’ launched after Epping ruling
The latest government statistics indicate a high degree of variation over a short period of time, meaning any significant changes since June 30 will not be reflected.
In one of the four council areas, Derry City and Strabane, the figures changed from a total of 57 people living in hotel accommodation in March of this year – down to just three people by June 30.
The council area with the highest number in the latest statistics was Causeway Coast and Glens with 124 – up from 98 in March. It is the only area to register an increase since March.
The two remaining areas – Ards and North Down and Antrim and Newtownabbey – were home to a combined total of 119 asylum seekers living in hotel accommodation when the data was recorded on June 30. The remainder of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils do not have any hotels used in this way.
The news comes after Antrim and Newtownabbey Council said an enforcement investigation had begun into the legal planning status of the Chimney Corner Hotel in Co Antrim being used to house asylum seekers.
Now, two more council areas – Causeway Coast and Glens, and Ards and North Down – have also said they have received queries about planning status for hotels in the areas.
The requests for investigations follow a legal case in England. Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction by the High Court on Tuesday which blocks asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in the Essex town. Current residents are to be removed by September 12.
In a statement published on social media, DUP councillor in the Causeway Coast and Glens Aaron Callan confirmed the party is seeking an investigation into planning regulations in his area.
Democratic Unionist Party Councillors on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Call for Investigation into Hotels Housing Asylum Seekers
“The DUP Causeway Coast and Glens Council group has requested that investigations be launched into hotels in the borough which are currently being used to house asylum seekers,” Mr Callan said.
TUV leader Jim Allister has also written to several councils about the issue.
In a letter to the councils shared by his party’s press office, the North Antrim MP wrote: “In light of this week’s High Court ruling in respect of the Bell Hotel in Epping, can you advise if there are any properties in your district whose planning permission is for hotel use, but which are being used to house migrants?
“If so, will the council, in light of the finding in the Epping case that such use is not compatible with planning permission for hotel use, be taking action to ensure such non-compliant use is terminated?”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Causeway Coast and Glens council said: “Council has received several queries relating to associated planning matters, however any enforcement cases are a confidential matter.”
A spokesperson for Ards and North Down said the council is “in receipt of several queries regarding a hotel in Bangor and the planning service will review these in line with its enforcement policy”.
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, said people must be treated with dignity following the Epping case.
“Amnesty International has long raised concerns that hotels are wholly unsuitable for housing people seeking asylum,” he said. “This judgment must not lead to even further disruption and insecurity for the refugees themselves.
“Proper investment by Government in planning and providing for appropriate accommodation is urgently needed. At the same time, that department must reset its asylum system to provide people with decisions on their asylum claims fairly and efficiently – so people are not stuck in limbo and can get on with their lives.”
He added: “People must be treated with dignity, just as we would expect if it was our families who were forced to flee war or persecution.”
The latest Home Office figures, relating to Northern Ireland, show the number of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels in each of the following local government districts:
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 78 (80 in March)
- Ards and North Down Borough Council 41 (53 in March)
- Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council 0
- Belfast City Council 0
- Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council 124 (98 in March)
- Derry City and Strabane District Council 3 (57 in March)
- Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 0
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council 0
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council 0
- Mid Ulster District Council 0
- Newry, Mourne and Down District Council 0
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