UK Vows to Overhaul Asylum System as Protests Spread

The UK government has pledged to overhaul the country’s asylum system following a weekend of protests at hotels housing migrants, with more demonstrations expected in the coming days.

New Independent Appeals Body

On Sunday, the government announced plans to create a new independent body to handle appeals by failed asylum applicants more swiftly. Officials said the move is part of efforts to end the expensive reliance on so-called asylum hotels, which have fueled public discontent in several communities.

The announcement came shortly after a court ruling blocked the Labour government from housing asylum seekers in a contentious hotel in southeast England. The ruling sparked a fresh wave of protests and counter-protests across the country.

Protests Across the UK

Demonstrations under the slogan “Abolish Asylum System” were staged on Saturday in multiple cities, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Perth, and London.

In Bristol, mounted police separated rival groups as officers clashed with protesters. “Our officers have dealt admirably with a really challenging situation,” said Keith Smith of Avon and Somerset Police. “While there were moments of disturbance, we’re pleased to say the two protests passed without significant incident.”

In Liverpool, however, 11 people were arrested for offences ranging from assault to public disorder.

Trigger and Wider Unrest

The latest protests began in Epping, southeast England, after a resident was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Further demonstrations are planned for Sunday and Monday, coinciding with a public holiday in the UK.

Rising Pressure on the System

According to official data, more than 32,000 asylum seekers were being accommodated in hotels across the UK at the end of March. The government says a soaring backlog of asylum cases and long court delays remain the biggest source of pressure on the system.

“We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system,” said Interior Minister Yvette Cooper. “We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels. We cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays in appeals.”

AFP