Bournemouth Council has today been informed by the Home Office that they expect that the asylum seekers being accommodated in the town will have left by next week.
Council Leader, Councillor John Beesley said: “Today, the Chief Executive, the Deputy Leader and I met with Home Office officials to discuss the issue of asylum seekers being accommodated in two local hotels. They reiterated to us that it was an emergency measure to ease overcrowding in London and stated it was just short term and that those staying locally had already been reduced from the initial number who arrived last week.
“Dorset Police also attended the meeting and confirmed there have been no recorded incidents of associated crime or anti social behaviour resulting from the asylum seekers being accommodated locally. Details have also been shared with us about the Public Health screening undergone by the asylum seekers in London.”
Cllr Beesley added: “We are maintaining regular contact with the Home Office and are being updated on a frequent basis. Our understanding is that there are no long term plans to use Bournemouth in the future for accommodating asylum seekers.”
