MP says asylum seekers could be housed 'slap bang' in heart of Kettering for a year

Political leaders have received a ‘genuine apology’ from the Home Office for being kept out of the loop as asylum seekers were moved to a Kettering hotel.

Kettering MP Philip Hollobone and Cllr Jason Smithers, leader of North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), met with immigration minister Robert Jenrick MP yesterday.

The face-to-face meeting had been called after 41 men were moved into the Royal Hotel despite ‘serious concerns’ raised by NNC, saying the hotel was not ‘appropriate’ citing the welfare of residents and those seeking asylum.

Mr Hollobone says there was a ‘full and frank’ exchange of views and that they left the minister ‘in no doubt of the strong feelings on the issue’.

He said: “My firm view remains that this is a wrong-headed decision. The local police, the local council and myself have all been misled about the mobilisation of this hotel for asylum seekers.

"Located slap bang in the middle of the town centre itself, this location is completely unsuitable. There are no kitchen facilities within the premises and the asylum seekers are being fed on takeaways.”

SERCO – the Home Office contractor – told the county delegation that there are 41 single men on-site with capacity for ten more under the one-year contract.

The nationalities of the asylum seekers being housed have been revealed to Mr Hollobone by police and are believed to be 20 Afghans with the remainder coming from 10 different African and Asian countries.

Today, one of the asylum seekers told the Northants Telegraph that he was enjoying his stay, saying that the ‘food’, ‘sleep’, ‘police’ and ‘English’ was ‘good’.

The 48-year old, an Iraqi Kurd, had been travelling for two months to reach the UK and had a ‘problem’ as he crossed the English Channel. The boat filled with water nearly up to his knees.

He said he ‘loved’ the English and that he had not been treated well in other countries, saying he had seen women and children beaten. He said belongings stolen from them including watches, earrings and rings. He said one problem was ‘no money’.

Mr Hollobone said: “SERCO tell us that the hotel has two security guards and two support staff on site 24/7, but Northamptonshire Police tell us that only one security guard is present.

“Home Office/SERCO seem content that the hotel has addressed the environmental health issues, which NNC disputes.

“The Minister was concerned to learn that whilst the contract is for 51 spaces, the hotel is pressing to take up to 78. He was receptive to the idea that a 90-day break clause could be triggered were suitable alternative accommodation to be found locally. I am not optimistic that alternative provision could be found.”

Mr Hollobone told Mr Jenrick that biometric data – fingerprints, DNA, photographs – and any previous offending history is not being shared by the Home Office with Northamptonshire Police and promised a response to the concerns.

A Kettering Labour Party spokesman said the situation is a disgrace, adding: “The local Tory run council has tried to take the Tory Government to court over this, and the Tory MP is at loggerheads with the Tory Home Secretary. They are letting down both the people of Kettering and the vulnerable people in their care.”