The Home Office has launched an immediate probe after the scale of the migrant crimewave blighting Britain was exposed. It is claimed at least 312 asylum seekers receiving bed and board courtesy of taxpayers have been charged with 708 alleged criminal offences in just three years.
The snapshot shows those lodging in publicly-funded hotels and communities across the UK have committed a catalogue of heinous crimes including rape, sexual assault, attacking emergency workers and theft. It comes as tension reaches boiling point as exasperation at a failure to get to grips with the crisis is replaced by anger.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Mass immigration has inflicted a massive strain on our public services, a surge in crime, a worsening housing crisis and led to fewer British people in work. Those who do pay their taxes are left carrying the burden of supporting those who don’t.
“The fundamental duties of any government are to protect its people, improve their lives – and put them first. Politicians work for the people, not the other way round. This principle has been lost. The UK can no longer be treated like a charity for the rest of the world: it is time we prioritised our people, our jobs and our culture.”
In the latest flashpoint eight police officers were injured in clashes with protesters outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which is believed to be housing asylum seekers.
Disorder erupted after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, appeared in court to deny trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
The first planned protest near the Bell Hotel took place last weekend triggering a week-long series of demonstrations that reached a nadir on Thursday when police were attacked.
The new figures, detailed in the Mail on Sunday, provide a disturbing snapshot of offences recorded at 70 of 220 taxpayer-funded hotels currently being used to house migrants.
Alleged offences committed include 18 charges of rape, five of attempted rape, 35 of sexual assault and 51 of theft.
There were also 89 charges of assault – 27 of which allegedly targeted police officers or other emergency workers – 43 for drug offences, 18 for burglary and 16 for robbery.
Almost 20,000 migrants crossed the Channel in the first six months of this year – a 50% year-on-year rise on the number crossing from France.
On the eve of last year’s general election Mr Farage warned the unchecked migrant crisis was a national security emergency exposing Britain to extreme danger.
He warned the scandal is the ultimate betrayal of a promise to restore sovereignty after the UK quit the EU.
Mr Farage told this newspaper: “There is a growing list of people who have come into Britain illegally [and] committed serious crimes in our country. The Channel crisis is an issue of national security that is of the utmost importance.
“The large numbers of undocumented young males that are coming into our country are seen as a problem. Actually, it is far more serious than that. Many of these young men, who throw their smartphones and passports into the English Channel once they reach 12-miles from British shores, come from countries that are still fighting wars.”
In March last year, a migrant named Rabie Knissi, staying at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, Portsmouth, was jailed for ten years for a sex attack against a woman in her 40s.
Shortly after striking up a conversation Knissi pushed her up against a parked car and attempted to rape her.
He refused to attend Portsmouth Crown Court during his trial and was convicted of attempted rape, assault by penetration and actual bodily harm.
Detective Richard Gibson of Hampshire Police said: “This was a particularly nasty and violent attack. Incidents of this nature have a devastating and lifelong impact on victims.”
Accommodation for asylum seekers will cost taxpayers three times the amount first thought.
Contracts signed by the Conservative government in 2019 were expected to see £4.5bn of public cash paid to three companies over 10-years. But a report by spending watchdog the National Audit Office says that number is expected to swell to £15.3bn.
The NAO says ministers have “few levers” to control the rising costs, which have largely been driven by an increase in the number placed in hotels.
It is thought that there are now 32,345 asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels and 66,683 in houses, flats and bedsits across the UK.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This lays bare the risk posed by these illegal immigrants to the British public. We need to deport all illegal immigrants immediately upon arrival, with no judicial process, either to Rwanda or elsewhere.”
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Independent MP Rupert Lowe said: “Every single crime committed by a small boat migrant is avoidable.
“I asked the Home Office how many asylum seekers have been charged with rape or sexual assault in each of the last five years.
“They don’t know the answer, or at least claim not to.
“The Home Office is a disgrace.”
The Home Office said: “We do not tolerate criminality of any kind and will be thoroughly investigating all the allegations.”