Name: Home Office urged to investigate treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow
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Home Office urged to investigate treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow

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This article is more than 2 years oldThis article is more than 2 years oldScottish government makes call after stabbings at hotel housing asylum seekers during lockdownLast modified on Mon 29 Jun 2020 03.16 EDTThe Scottish government has told the Home Office it expects a “thorough investigation” into the treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow during the coronavirus lockdown, after a Sudanese man stabbed six people including a police officer at a city centre hotel before being shot dead by police.The warning came as outreach agencies demanded immediate practical support for those asylum seekers worst affected by Friday’s events, and after claims emerged that staff at the Park Inn hotel about 28-year-old Badreddin Abedlla Adam’s mental health the night before he carried out his attack.On Sunday, local charities appealed for food, phones and phone chargers, as well as men’s and women’s clothing for distressed Park Inn residents who were moved late on Friday night to another hotel but have been unable to access their possessions since because the building remains a crime scene.The Park Inn was one of six hotels in Glasgow where an estimated 380 asylum seekers were moved en masse from their individual accommodation by the private housing provider Mears at the start of the lockdown, and is thought to have been the only one to house women.Sheila Arthur, the director of the asylum housing charity Community InfoSource, said that – because the Home Office withdrew all financial support when the asylum seekers were moved into hotels – the former Park Inn residents were struggling to replace what they had left behind.She added that it was vital that the group of about 90 men and women, many of whom are trauma survivors, received immediate psychological support. “The most crucial thing is counselling, and in their own language.”Steve Johnson, an assistant chief constable at Police Scotland, thanked those affected by the cordon around the Park Inn for their patience but said the restrictions were necessary to the ongoing police investigation. He said: “I would also like to reassure those people affected that the cordon will be lifted as quickly as we possibly can when all investigation work is completed at the scene.”The refugee homelessness charity Positive Action in Housing is calling for an independent investigation into Mears’ decision to during lockdown, as well as the restoration of financial support and residential accommodation.The Glasgow-based charity has previously highlighted concerns about the spiralling mental ill health of this vulnerable group, who have complained regularly about the quality of food provided, difficulties with physical distancing and hygiene in communal areas, and a lack of cash that makes it impossible to buy mobile phone top-ups to keep in touch with lawyers and family.The Guardian understands the Scottish Refugee Council also supports a full public inquiry into the circumstances around the incident, but that its focus for now is on people’s immediate needs and safety.The Guardian is aware that hotel staff based at other Glasgow hotels that are housing asylum seekers have raised concerns about working with residents who sometimes display distressed, erratic or threatening behaviour. The Guardian understands two hotels have increased security since Friday’s incident.Mears has said it is “deeply saddened and shocked” by Friday’s events and will provide more details “as we are able to”. “Our priority is to look after the welfare of our service users who will no doubt be traumatised by this terrible event.”On Sunday, a Scottish government spokesperson said: “The immediate priority must be to allow the police time to conclude their investigation. Any subsequent investigation into the wider circumstances surrounding the incident would be a matter for the Home Office, and we would expect a thorough investigation to take place.“The cabinet secretary for communities has requested a call with the UK immigration minister to seek reassurances about the safety and wellbeing of people accommodated in hotels, and to ensure they are receiving all the support they need at this difficult time. She will also seek details of planning for the safe transfer of people out of hotels into long-term accommodation in the community, all of which are issues we have repeatedly raised with the Home Office on previous occasions.”Chris Stephens, the MP for Glasgow South West, said the city’s seven Scottish National party MPs were demanding an urgent meeting with home office ministers to discuss the situation.Jennifer Layden, a Glasgow city councillor, said that, while it was important not to speculate or work on assumptions as a police investigation is ongoing, “the council and others had raised a number of concerns prior to this incident – and there is no reason the Home Office and Mears cannot move to address those now”.The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, Scotland’s police watchdog, has already confirmed it will carry out an independent investigation into the shooting of Abedlla Adam.A Home Office spokesperson said: ““The minister for immigration compliance and the courts is due to meet with the Scottish Government tomorrow and is keen to discuss how we can build on our existing accommodation offer across Scotland for supported asylum seekers.”

This article is more than 2 years oldThis article is more than 2 years oldScottish government makes call after stabbings at hotel housing asylum seekers during lockdownLast modified on Mon 29 Jun 2020 03.16 EDTThe Scottish government has told the Home Office it expects a “thorough investigation” into the treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow during the coronavirus lockdown, after a Sudanese man stabbed six people including a police officer at a city centre hotel before being shot dead by police.The warning came as outreach agencies demanded immediate practical support for those asylum...

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Libby Brooks

TheGuardian.com, formerly known as Guardian.co.uk and Guardian Unlimited, is a British news and media website owned by the Guardian Media Group. It contains nearly all of the content of the newspapers The Guardian and The Observer, as well as a substantial body of web-only work produced by its own staff, including a rolling news service.

Home Office urged to investigate treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow

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