Migrant charity describes asylum seeker hotel conditions as "shocking and deplorable"
RAMFEL say that some hotels are closer to prisons
A legal action charity that works with migrants and refugees in Essex and London says that asylum seeker hotels have "shocking and deplorable" conditions.
In a report titled: "Profiting from People: Inside the UK’s Asylum Hotels", the charity say that 80% of surveyed people said food was "really bad" and that almost half reported overcrowded rooms.
They are calling on the government to end hotel use, and invest in community housing.
Nick Beales, Head of Campaigning, said:
"These hotels are not luxurious, they are not five star at all. They are awful places to be housed.
"They are frequently vermin infested, they would fail basic sanitation checks. The food provided to people is absolutely deplorable.
"We receive photos from people of bars in their windows, so these hotels are far more akin to prisons than they are to hotels.
"In the Epping Hotel case, Epping Council themselves said that the Bell Hotel was more akin to Borstal.
"We also receive photos and complaints of bed bugs, of extremely unsanitary conditions. We've received photographs of mice and rats in bedrooms.
"It's horrible when you have people who have already fled war, persecution, torture in search of safety and a better life, and that they are having to live in these absolutely shocking and deplorable conditions.
"It is really important to note that the people who are in these hotels don't want to be there. Nobody wants these hotels to exist.
"They are expensive, they are cruel, and they are not an effective way to run the asylum system."
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.
“This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway to move asylum seekers into military bases to ease pressure on communities across the country.
“We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across-government so that we can accelerate delivery.”
The Home Office says that "all sites will comply with safety, security, health and wellbeing standards", and that all accommodations undergo inspections.