Hillingdon, a borough in West London, has emerged as Britain’s asylum seeker hotspot, with government statistics revealing that 97 out of every 10,000 residents are asylum seekers. The majority of these individuals are currently being housed in hotels as part of a nationwide scheme that costs taxpayers nearly £3 billion annually. According to the latest data from the House of Commons Library, as of the end of 2024, there are 109,100 asylum seekers being supported across the UK. However, critics argue that this distribution is far from even, with many local communities feeling the strain of accommodating large numbers of asylum seekers. Fifty-nine out of 361 local authorities in the UK accommodate none, raising concerns about the disproportionate burden placed on certain areas.
The Home Office has a policy of dispersing asylum seekers across the country, and officials emphasize that individuals are not given a choice in their accommodation locations. However, critics like Robert Bates of the Centre for Migration Control argue that the system is failing, with communities in the north and areas known as the “Red Wall” bearing the brunt of the crisis. Bates points out that the high numbers of asylum seekers in London make it easier for individuals to disappear into the “grey economy” and remain in the UK unlawfully. Of the total number of asylum seekers, 42,800 are in short-term “initial accommodation,” mostly in hotels, while 65,700 are in longer-term “dispersal accommodation” managed by Home Office contractors.
While Glasgow accommodates the highest number of asylum seekers at 4,193, Hillingdon tops the list when considering the ratio per capita, with 97 asylum seekers for every 10,000 residents. Other areas, such as Hounslow and Halton, follow closely, with rates of 73 and 70 per 10,000 residents, respectively. Bates critiques the Home Office for granting asylum too readily, claiming that this has created a “pull factor” for illegal entrants and resulted in a system overwhelmed by demand, costing taxpayers over £6 billion annually. He also highlights the sluggish removal of failed asylum applicants, which he says clogs the system and forces the continued use of hotels.
The situation has sparked widespread concern among local communities, with many residents expressing feelings of insecurity, particularly at night. In one notable case, the quiet Essex village of Wethersfield, with a population of just 707, is set to be outnumbered by asylum seekers housed at a nearby former RAF airfield. Villagers have reported feeling unsafe due to anti-social behavior and have seen their properties become unsellable. This case underscores the growing tensions between the government’s efforts to accommodate asylum seekers and the concerns of local communities.
The asylum crisis in the UK has been further exacerbated by the “small boats” issue, with tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel since 2018. The government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with opponents accusing it of failing to deter illegal crossings or address the backlog of asylum applications. The cost of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels alone has risen to £5.5 million per day, with the number of migrants in hotels increasing by 29% since June 2024. Despite pledges to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, the Home Office has yet to set a definitive end date, with a vague goal of achieving “zero” by the end of the current parliament in August 2029.
In response to the crisis, Robert Bates has called for a deterrent like the Rwanda plan, which he believes would reduce the incentive for illegal crossings and ease pressure on local public services. The plan, which involves sending asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing, has been controversial, but Bates argues it is necessary to restore order to the system. The government has acknowledged the challenges it inherited, including an asylum system under strain, but insists it is working toward a fair and equitable distribution of asylum seekers across the UK. However, for many, the current situation remains a source of frustration and concern, with the British public increasingly calling for urgent reforms to address the crisis.
