Glasgow politicians demand Home Office step in and halt Serco evictions

Glasgow politicians have co-signed a letter to the Home Office demanding they step in and prevent the eviction of hundreds of asylum seekers from their homes.

Government contractor Serco plans to evict up to 300 failed refugees by changing the locks on their homes.

Council leader Susan Aitken says it would cause a "humanitarian crisis" in the city.

It was signed by Cllrs Susan Aitken, Mhairi Hunter, Jennifer Layden (SNP); Cllr Martha Wardrop (Green); Cllr Frank McAveety (Labour); MPs Alison Thewliss, Paul Grady, David Linden, Carol Monaghan, Chris Stephens and Stewart McDonald (SNP) and Paul Sweeney (Labour).

The letter states: “We share the view that this action by your accommodation provider will trigger a humanitarian crisis in Glasgow, leaving an estimated 300 already vulnerable men, women and children destitute.

“Despite the local authority's status as a Home Office partner in the asylum dispersal programme, there was no meaningful engagement with Serco prior to its announcement that it would commence changing the locks of the accommodation of those who have not been granted refugee status.''

It warns the plans are “wholly unacceptable, not least due to the imminent risk of significant harm to a vulnerable group'' and said those evicted are more likely to end up sleeping rough than to leave the UK.

It continues: “We hereby call on you, as Home Secretary, to instruct Serco to cease the lock change and eviction programme with immediate effect.''

No Conservatives put their name to the letter to the Home Secretary and Labour MP Paul Sweeney, who did sign, called on Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to act.

He said: “Surely even Ruth Davidson must be prepared to admit that this is yet another manifestation of their party's unacceptable and inhumane attitude to those seeking our country's protection and shelter?''

Local Government and Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has also written to the UK Government and Serco calling for the “callous'' policy to end.

Historically, lock changes have not been used for those who remain in asylum accommodation despite the Home Office ruling they will not be granted refugee status and withdrawing their funding and support.

The plans were revealed at the weekend in a Serco email to agencies involved in supporting refugees which said it “will be commencing with the issuing of lock change notices'' for those affected starting on Monday.

Serco said it is “sympathetic'' to those affected but believes it has been more than supportive having provided free housing to rejected asylum seekers without recompense from the Home Office.

Serco has also faced criticism from the housing sector and a protest is planned in Glasgow city centre on Tuesday.

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations said Serco is “in danger of putting profit before people'' while Positive Action in Housing said some of those affected have stopped leaving their flats to buy food.

Jenni Halliday, Serco contract director, said: “Serco has been providing housing free of charge to over 300 former asylum seekers who no longer have the right to stay in the UK.

“We have been paying for the rent, the rates, the heating and lighting, and insurance on their properties, in many cases for many months all at our own expense.

“Each of these former asylum seekers have been refused the right to stay in the UK by the Government and the Home Office does not fund Serco to provide them with accommodation.

“Whilst we are sympathetic to their plight, we believe we have been more than supportive of these individuals by providing them with an additional period of housing in which to make alternative arrangements but we cannot continue to provide free housing indefinitely.

“We have therefore started legal proceedings to repossess our properties."