The number of refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom has been increasing and so is the concern over the treatment they receive. This prompted a review of the system and the study revealed that asylum accommodation has been geared towards profits rather than the wellbeing of the seekers.
According to a report by The Independent, it has been noted how the system of housing asylum seekers has gotten worse following austerity cuts and its privatization back in 2012. In the hopes of saving up to £150 million, the government transferred the accommodation to three private contractors through six contracts, known as COMPASS, signed in March 2012.
The study was conducted by Dr. Jonathan Darling from the University of Manchester, an expert on European migration and asylum. According to Dr. Darling, the U.K.'s asylum housing system has become "increasingly fragmented" with focus turned to "resource allocation, cost and productivity."
"What we've seen across the UK is that the process of privatizing asylum accommodation differs a little in terms of local context, but has predominantly resulted in a reduction in support provision, gaps in responsibility for addressing complaints and a lack of long-term planning or consideration for integration," Dr. Darling explained.
The unequal dispersal of refugees is also a mounting concern, as majority of them are in low-cost housing in urban areas including Glasgow, Liverpool and Rochdale. Some refugees also became targets of abuse and violence in Middlesbrough when the doors of houses were painted red, seemingly highlighting where they are living.
A report from Daily Mail said that defense officials are now looking into providing British military camps as migrant camps following an urgent request from the Home Office. In Wales, there are three camps already identified as possible camp for asylum seekers. The Ministry of Defense is visiting dozens other bases across the country.
