A protest's taken place against the use of local hotels for asylum seekers in Skegness
Several hundred people took part in the demonstration that saw people march through a main road of the seaside town
Last updated 25th Feb 2023
A demonstration against the use of hotels for asylum seekers has taken place today in Skegness.
The protest saw crowds gather at the railway station before departing down Lumley road and into Tower Gardens.
Placards, banners and posters could be seen leading the march, where tensions amongst those involved were high.
Once they gathered at Tower Gardens, speeches were made by locals and leaders of the groups; Enough is Enough and Patriotic Alternative - who arranged the march.
Patriotic Alternative, a right-wing group, has been accused of inflaming tensions wherever migrants are housed.
Skegness MP Matt Warman has condemned far-right groups of “shamelessly” exploiting concerns over asylum seekers in hotels.
It comes a week after a violent demonstration outside a Merseyside hotel where they were also being housed, with 15 arrests.
The town’s MP spoke in Parliament on Monday, urging people to reject extremism and focus on the issues.
He told the Secretary for Immigration: “Like me, the Minister, the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister believe that hotels are the wrong place to put people seeking asylum, but on Saturday in Skegness another protest is planned against the use of these hotels.
“While there are legitimate concerns, I hope the Minister will agree that the shameless use of people’s concerns by far-right groups is to be deplored and stands in the way of our having a sensible conversation that will in the long-term allow us to move beyond the use of these hotels.
“Will he join me in appealing to the people of Skegness to focus, rightly, on those issues but not to join hands with far-right groups?”
Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Immigration, said people shouldn’t “stoke disorder or community tension in Skegness.”
“I know my Honourable Friend’s constituents are frustrated by the use of hotels in Skegness—as are we in Government—and want to see action to tackle the small boats issue,” he said.
“They want to see our laws enforced and those coming here illegally apprehended and removed to other safe countries, but I know also that they will not want to join with more pernicious elements such as far-right groups and to stoke disorder or community tensions in his town.
“I applaud him for the work he is doing with his community; he held an important public meeting recently to listen to community concerns and raise them with me and the Home Secretary as we formulate policy.”MP Matt Warman stood up in Parliament on Monday to warn how the issue was being exploited.
“While there are legitimate concerns, I hope the Minister will agree that the shameless use of people’s concerns by far-right groups is to be deplored and stands in the way of our having a sensible conversation that will in the long-term allow us to move beyond the use of these hotels,” he said.
Lincolnshire Police say they respect people’s right to protest, but won’t tolerate any criminal behaviour.
There have been no major police incidents reported so far.
The force have also insisted and confirmed there hasn’t been a rise in crime in Skegness, despite online fearmongering.
Unconfirmed claims have circulated in Facebook groups about disorder fuelled by the temporary migrants.
A tabloid also recently described the town as a ‘powder keg’ and reported incidents including broken shop windows, vandalised cars and skirmishes with security staff.
Police have confirmed there hasn’t been a rise in crime in Skegness, despite online fearmongering.
Unconfirmed claims have circulated in Facebook groups about disorder fuelled by the temporary migrants.
A tabloid also recently described the town as a ‘powder keg’ and reported incidents including broken shop windows, vandalised cars and skirmishes with security staff.
A protest has also been organised for this weekend, with the Skegness MP warning the issue is being exploited by far-right groups.
However, Lincolnshire Police maintain that local people aren’t reporting any extra crimes, and residents haven’t become more unsafe.
At a large public meeting in November, Superintendent Pat Coates said: “We have all the resources we need. We manage hundreds of thousands of tourists every summer.”
He added there was no evidence that people are at additional risk.
However, this hasn’t stopped fears or rumours flying. One woman at the meeting said: “We are scared to go out at night.”
A man claimed his partner was “petrified” and “intimidated” by groups she believed were asylum seekers.
Others said that there were stories online of alleged crimes by asylum seekers, including stolen phones, harrasing women or taking pictures of children playing football.
Superintendent Coates said the force could only act if they received reports, and urged people to come forward if they had been victims.
He added: “Making young women feel safe in public is at the forefront of our agenda.”
He told the meeting that police regularly visit the hotels to keep both asylum seekers and the community safe.
Serco, the government contractor responsible for housing asylum seekers, are now exploring other options such as detached housing and student accommodation.
The policy has proved controversial in other towns, with locals accusing Serco of turning them into “dumping grounds”.
Seven hotels are currently being used to house asylum seekers in the county including five hotels in East Lindsey housing single, adult males – two on a temporary basis known as ‘spot booking’, one hotel in South Kesteven housing women, children, and family groups and one hotel in Boston Borough housing single, adult males.