Asylum seekers contingency accommodation

The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide support including accommodation to homeless asylum seekers whilst their claims are being considered. In recent months, the asylum system has faced significant pressures and it has become necessary for the Government to source, and use, additional temporary accommodation, such as hotels to ensure the Home Office can continue to meet its statutory obligations.

The Wiltshire Hotel is a contingency spot-booking hotel. This means asylum seekers could be here from a few days up to a maximum of 90 days. A spot booking hotel is when placements are expected to be short term before individuals are moved to dispersal accommodation anywhere in the country. It is not yet known how long the hotel will be used for this purpose. We understand that no fixed contract has been entered into with the hotel and so the need to use the hotel will be continually assessed.

The Home Office has not carried out a consultation. They recognise that the local community may have concerns and advise they will work with the local authorities and other partners to understand and address any concerns. They are working closely with the police and other agencies in matters relating to the operation of the sites, security and the ongoing welfare of all concerned.

The Home Office is fully funding the operation of the hotel, which is designed to meet the basic needs of asylum seekers. The local authority does not receive any funding linked to spot booking hotels or the asylum seekers residing there.

The hotel is being used to accommodate asylum seekers who are single adult males. These are people who have claimed asylum in the United Kingdom, and whose initial asylum claims will be processed and considered by the Home Office. They are not detained, and so are free to leave the hotel, but are expected to be on site overnight.

We have not assessed the hotel as a local authority, and the standard of the accommodation is the responsibility of the accommodation provider.

The hotel is staffed 24/7 by a combination of home office security and housing staff who have experience in providing cover within contingency provision. Any issues will be raised with hotel staff in the first instance.

The Home Office accommodation providers, Clearsprings Ready Homes and Fine Fair the sub-contracted company who are present at the hotel providing welfare support on site, will deal with any issues raised by the residents and ensure that their safeguarding requirements are met and we would expect them to raise with us where statutory services are required.

If Clearsprings Ready Homes has reasonable grounds to suspect that the safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers, staff, or members of the community are at risk, they will take appropriate action including contacting the police, ambulance or local authority services or making an onward referral to the Home Office safeguarding team.

• The accommodation is fully catered, and includes options for special dietary, cultural or religious requirements.
• All the basic needs of residents will be met on site and entertainment and pastoral support will be arranged by Fine Fair.
• All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services.

The maximum capacity of the hotel is 70, with people from a range of countries residing there.

The asylum seekers can leave the site freely. They are required to stay overnight at the hotel. Welfare calls are made if residents have not returned by 10pm.

The asylum seekers are not detained. Clearsprings Ready Homes staff will take the necessary steps to ensure people return to their accommodation. If anyone goes missing then a missing person's process is initiated.

On arrival at the hotel, each Service User signs an occupancy agreement and is given a thorough verbal and written induction in a language they can understand. This includes a site induction detailing fire assembly points, how to raise concerns and provide feedback and how to access the Migrant Help 24hr support service (AIRE). They receive an induction from Clearsprings Ready Homes on expected behaviour. They are also given details on how to stay safe. The hotel is staffed 24/7 by a combination of security and housing staff who have experience in providing cover within contingency provision. Any issues will be raised with hotel staff in the first instance.

Yes, but details of how this will be coordinated are still being worked on and we will update when ready. In the meantime please do not deposit items with the hotel as this can cause security and resourcing issues. 

Whilst all basic needs for food, shelter, and urgent welfare are being provided at the hotel and funded directly by the Home Office, local partners including Wiltshire Council, local NHS health services and Wiltshire Police are all working closely together to help and support residents and to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of all concerned.

The hotel is staffed 24/7 by a combination of home office security and housing staff who have experience in providing cover within contingency provision. Any issues will be raised with hotel staff in the first instance.

If you have any community safety issues then these should go via the police non-emergency line 101 and they will liaise with partners where necessary.