A picturesque Northamptonshire village has been turned into a “no-go zone” since a nearby hotel began housing asylum seekers, angry residents have claimed. Locals in Crick say groups of men from the 111-room Ibis Rugby East hotel, situated a mile away across the M1, regularly gather in public areas late at night, play football on the children’s playing fields, and cause noise and disruption.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I don’t want them here – they’ve come here illegally but are treated as guests. They’re rowdy and people living nearby can’t sleep.” A father of two teenage girls said: “I’m worried about them even walking round the corner from a friend’s house. They’re making our lives a misery.” Tensions have increased following the alleged sexual assault of a woman in nearby Rugby, Warwickshire, on August 5.
An asylum seeker, Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court next month.
Crick Parish Council said it had raised complaints with Serco, the outsourcing firm managing the site for the Home Office. In a statement, it said: “Serco have told us that they cannot impose a curfew, and the residents are not prevented from leaving the hotel.
“The decision to house immigrants at the Ibis was a central government decision and was not supported by West Northamptonshire Council or Crick Parish Council, both of whom strongly object.”
Northamptonshire Police said they had increased patrols in the village “to offer reassurance” in the wake of the Rugby incident. A force spokesperson said: “We know this incident has caused concern to people living in the area and our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been completing extra patrols in Crick in recent days.”
Daventry MP Stuart Andrew said: “The safety of residents is my highest priority. I have been consistently raising concerns with the Home Office about the situation in Crick and will continue working closely with local authorities to help ensure our communities are safe for all.”
Serco said asylum seekers at the hotel are “free to come and go” and the facility is “not a detention centre.” A spokesperson added: “All asylum seekers are given an induction into what is expected of anyone living in the UK… Any anti-social behaviour or illegal activities should be reported to the police.”
Accor, the hotel group which includes Ibis within its portfolio, said the hotel was independently owned and operated, adding: “Its alternative use follows an agreement between the owner of the property and the Home Office.”
The Home Office has faced growing criticism over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers amid a backlog of unprocessed claims. Supporters of the policy say it provides shelter while claims are assessed; critics argue it creates tensions in small communities.
On Friday night, hundreds of residents protested outside the Ibis in Crick, echoing unrest in nearby Warwickshire at the weekend.
In Nuneaton, crowds gathered outside the town hall after two Afghan asylum seekers were charged with raping a 12-year-old girl. Both demonstrations were monitored by large numbers of police officers.
The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has become a flashpoint across the UK, with critics claiming the policy puts pressure on small communities and fuels disorder, while supporters argue it is necessary to accommodate people awaiting the outcome of asylum claims.
On Saturday anti-migrant protesters marched through Nuneaton, Warwickshire, after two Afghan asylum seekers were charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Hundreds gathered outside the town hall in demonstrations that were met with a significant police presence.
