Further protests have taken place outside of a hotel in London set to house lone male migrants. Concerned locals took to the streets near Heathrow Airport in demonstration, carrying placards and chanting “protect our kids”. This follows confirmation of the hotel changing from housing both men and women, to just male asylum seekers.
One woman, using a megaphone, was heard saying: “This is a peaceful protest for our community and our children. Guys, we are totally 100 per cent behind you. But keep it peaceful, keep it peaceful please!” Police were seen in the area during the demonstration. Protests have erupted outside a number of hotels which are switching from mixed to lone males.
The London hotel was previously approved to house families and single women, yet they have now been relocated, GB News reports.
Local council leader for Spelthorne Borough, Joanne Sexton, has now written to the Secretary of State regarding the switch, outlining her community’s concerns.
“This unexpected reversal has caused shock and significant concern within the local community,” she wrote, adding that the move risks residents not “integrating well and building community ties”.
Ms Sexton said she is “alarmed about the potential consequences of the proposed changes and the impact they will have.”
“Residents are very concerned and have begun contacting their local councillors for clarity, which they’re unable to provide due to the lack of official briefing.”
The council is set to speak with the Home Office regarding the matter today (August 1) to “discuss the proposals in greater detail”.
The London hotel is one of many which has seen protests over the past few weeks, with frustrated locals demonstrating in Epping, Canary Wharf, Nottingham, Waterlooville and Norfolk.
This comes after an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying at the Bell Hotel in Essex was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old schoolgirl days after arriving in the UK.
Those protesting against illegal migration have been met with counter protesters, largely from Stand Up To Racism.
The Home Office has vowed to shut down all migrant hotels by the end of Parliament as it continues to “work closely with community partners”.