Romanian migrants who have set up camp opposite the swanky Dorchester Hotel on one of the UK’s poshest streets have been slammed as “disgraceful grifters” by Express viewers. The squatters were filmed defecating in public and holding early-morning drinking sessions on the Park Lane reservation this week, with shocking footage also showing one migrant telling a reporter that he should “go” and that they had the “right to be there”. A court order gave local officials permission to remove the site last month and a spokesperson said Labour-run Westminster Council was working with Transport for London (TfL) to enforce an area clearance “as quickly as possible”.
Viewers reacted to the recorded clash between the Express journalist and Romanian migrants with shock, labelling it a revealing indictment of “what our once beautiful country is becoming”. “No normal country allows grifters like this to set up camp in the capital city,” one person commenting the video shared on YouTube said. “It’s a disgrace. The sense of entitlement is sickening.”
“Imagine them telling you to leave as if they own the land, it’s laughable and ridiculous,” another added.
A third person said: “They should never have been allowed to set up this camp in the first place. Welcome to broken Britain.”
“Considering wild camping is illegal in England for native Brits, it seems like non-native Brits can just pitch up tents wherever they like,” another Express reader said.
Migrants camped opposite the wealthy London street, where nightly hotel stays cost up to £2,000, were witnessed changing into rags before begging locals in the affluent neighbourhood for money.
People in the tent city have also been accused of anti-social behaviour including abusing local workers.
London mayor Sadiq Khan came under fire for his response to a question about removing the “unhygienic and unsafe” camp last month.
“Migrants and refugee communities face specific barriers to participating in and contributing to life in London, including accessing employment and housing opportunities,” he said.
“The Mayor’s position is that London has always been a city that welcomes migrants and provides sanctuary to those who need it. The Mayor is clear that we draw huge strength from the contribution of migrants and refugees who make London their home.”