The Home Office has confirmed that food delivery companies such as Deliveroo and Just Eat will know the location of hotels housing asylum seekers. It hopes the move will prevent illegal working as the companies will be able to monitor behaviour, such as an account spending a lot of time near one of the hotels.
It comes after a Daily Express investigation revealed that migrants arriving in the UK are working illegally as delivery drivers. Dozens of migrants were found staying in a London hotel while working for companies such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. The latest move from the Home Office is also aimed at stopping drivers from sharing their accounts with migrants who cannot work in the UK.
Migrants are not allowed to work under any circumstances if they have been in the UK for less than a year. Even those that have been here longer than 12 months are not able to legally work as delivery drivers.
A new agreement between the Home Office and the delivery companies means the firms will receive new information concerning the locations of asylum hotels in a bid to tackle illegal working. However, local residents are not told about asylum hotels in their area, with the Home Office yet to confirm whether migrants will be moved into The Britannia Hotel, in Canary Wharf, London, following recent protests.
According to the BBC, thousands of people have been removed from delivery companies following a recent crackdown on checking the identity of drivers. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime.
“By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement.”
Protests erupted at the Bell Hotel in Epping last week after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault. Protesters have also gathered outside the Britannia Hotel after it emerged the Government would use it to house asylum seekers.
While the Home Office is yet to confirm whether the hotel will house asylum seekers, Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
“It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”
The Home Office said they do not discuss details of specific asylum seeker hotels.