'Close the hotels and let us work' - asylum seeker
“Let them close all the hotels and let us get jobs,” says Mohammed, a Somali asylum seeker who has been staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping for four months. Speaking to the BBC, he explained that living in a camp or regular housing would be far better, and that many asylum seekers simply want the chance to support themselves through work.
Around 140 migrants currently staying at The Bell Hotel will need to be relocated by 12 September after the High Court issued a provisional injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed there.
Border Security Minister Angela Eagle has confirmed that all asylum hotels will be closed before the end of this Parliament.
Mohammed, who is 40 and awaiting a decision on whether he will be allowed to remain in the UK, described tensions within the hotel. “Many migrants are fighting each other. If you can’t work and you don’t have enough social activities, people become frustrated. They are not allowed to work, not allowed to do long hours, and without any certainty of residency, they become anxious. So people go outside and try to resolve things themselves.”
Currently, asylum seekers in the UK are not permitted to work, except in limited circumstances. They may apply for permission if their claim has been pending for more than 12 months through no fault of their own. A government spokesperson said there are “no plans to change the existing laws.”
Home Office data shows that at the end of June, 199 asylum seekers were staying in hotels in the Epping Forest area. While awaiting further legal decisions, two asylum seekers have been detained. Hadush Kebatu, 41, has been charged with attempting to coerce a local teenage girl into sexual activity, while Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, a Syrian national residing at The Bell, faces charges of assault and sexual assault.
The use of The Bell Hotel has sparked protests from both those opposed to housing asylum seekers and those campaigning for migrant rights. Essex Police confirmed that some of the demonstrations turned violent, with 16 people charged with offences related to disorder.
Residents of Epping remain divided. Some describe the protests as a “stain on the town,” while others express concern about public safety, particularly for children.
Mohammed says he understands both the frustrations of residents and the demonstrators’ concerns. “Let them close the hotels everywhere. Let people work so we can take care of ourselves instead of staying in hotels. You cannot do nothing forever. We are not tourists. We would prefer single houses, a camp, or other accommodation – but not a hotel.”
He welcomed the news that Epping Forest District Council has been granted a High Court injunction against Somani Hotels, which owns The Bell, saying it would “at least for now” prevent hotels from being used to house people like him.
Commenting on the issue, Dame Angela Eagle MP said in a statement: “This government inherited a broken asylum system. At that time, over 400 hotels were in use. We will continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns.”
