THERE will be 24-hour security at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford as it is set to be taken over by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
Earlier reports suggested up to 120 asylum seekers would be housed there, with worrying scenes of protesters clashing with counter-demonstrators outside hotels housing asylum seekers in recent weeks.
In February, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said housing asylum seekers in hotels is causing “understandable tensions” following ugly clashes between protesters.
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She said violence is “never acceptable” but “we are all frustrated with the situation” and it is not “racist or bigoted” to acknowledge the problems caused to communities.
Her comments came after anti-migrant protesters had gathered outside hotels in Knowsley, Merseyside, and Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and there were clashes with counter-demonstrators.
According to Herefordshire Council, asylum seekers will be accommodated on a full-board basis within the hotel.
There will be support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with security staff, and this is all being funded by the Home Office.
The hotel is set to close on Friday after the owners signed a 12-month contract with the Home Office.
Talking about the actions that will be taken to ensure asylum seekers' behaviour inside and outside the hotel, Herefordshire Council said Home Office contractor Serco will have a manager on site and it will be in daily contact with them.
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"Any concerns about anti-social behaviour will be reported to the police and they will deal with any reports or concerns as they would normally do," a spokesperson said.
It said any concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour from the hotel should be emailed to refugeesupport@herefordshire.gov.uk where it will be raised with the hotel and relevant partners.
If you have a crime to report, Herefordshire Council said it should be reported to police in the usual ways
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