Asylum Seekers No Longer Housed in Hotels in Wiltshire
The recently released figures divulge the occupancy of asylum seekers in hotel accommodations within the Wiltshire region. As it stood on March 31, 2025, none of the seekers seeking asylum were housed in hotels in the area. The practice of hosting asylum seekers in hotel rooms has repeatedly drawn the attention of both protestors and their opposition, particularly those against immigration laws.
The previous year witnessed an unsettling number of protests against immigration, with 29 events sparking in 27 different UK towns and cities. A significant number of these protests resulted in violent outbreaks. Anticipating the upcoming summer, several additional protests are reportedly being planned.
In the year 2023, a public statement was necessitated from the Wiltshire Council as information surfaced about asylum seekers being accommodated in a hotel based in Royal Wootton Bassett. The decision to utilize the hotel as a residence for the asylum-seekers, however, was clarified as not being a choice made by the Council, but rather imposed by the Home Office.
According to the most recent data from the Home Office regarding immigration, as of the conclusion of March, 154 asylum-seekers were residents of Wiltshire. This data is the most recent available. A majority of these asylum-seekers, specifically 152 individuals, were living within the community in what is termed as ‘dispersal accommodation’.
Of the total number of asylum-seekers, 148 are awaiting the processing of their asylum application and are thus being supported with both housing and monetary assistance as per section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act. This policy provides support to those whose asylum claim is currently under assessment.
Two additional asylum seekers are provided support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act. This section aims to aid those asylum seekers whose applications are unsuccessful but who can demonstrate the impossibility of returning to their country of origin. These individuals too benefit from the support provided by the Act.
There’s also a provision, known as subsistence-only support, assisting those capable of providing for their own housing needs but requiring financial aid. Two such asylum-seekers in Wiltshire were receiving this form of aid at the end of this period.
The population of asylum-seekers in Wiltshire has seen several shifts over the course of the previous 18 months. The fluctuations observed went from 57 in June, rising to 77 in September and peaking at 112 in December.
Rewinding to March 2024, the then-population of asylum seekers in Wiltshire were partially placed in hotel accommodations. Specifically, out of 78 individuals, a total of 33 seekers were hosted in hotels.
Current data reveals that such practice has ceased as of the end of March 2025, with no hotels in Wiltshire currently sheltering asylum seekers. This marks a significant change in the housing patterns observed in the recent past.
It serves to remember that while the visibility of asylum seekers may rise due to such controversies, these individuals only seek a safe place to reside while escaping adverse circumstances in their countries of origin.
While the fluctuating numbers might indicate variability in the Council’s handling of the matter, it’s important to note that these changes are also influenced by broader immigration trends and the ongoing decision-making processes within the Home Office.
The extent of support provided demonstrates the multifaceted approach of the Immigration and Asylum Act provisions, from housing to financial support, ensuring various needs of asylum seekers are catered for during what could be a challenging period for them.
All this information paints a picture of the complex, fluctuating scenario into which asylum seekers and the institutions that support them are woven. Drawing attention to these figures could spark important conversations about how we as a society endorse and engage with these practices.
The clear opposition encountered by these practices, as demonstrated by the public protests nationwide, suggest a deep divide in public opinion on how asylum seekers should be treated and accommodated.
Ultimately, it is crucial to continue observing and discussing these practices, always striving to understand and improve the way we as a community handle matters of asylum and immigration.