House of Commons · Urgent Question
21 July 2025 · 30 other contributors
Opened by Chris Philp Con Croydon South
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Chris Philp raised concerns about asylum hotels migrant criminal activity 2025-07-21 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm that criminal activity is occurring in asylum hotels, and will she take specific actions to address this issue? The MP asks about publishing immigration status of offenders, closing the Epping hotel, repealing the Human Rights Act for immigration matters, and deporting illegal immigrants on arrival from France without judicial process.
Question
Will the Minister commit to recording and publishing the immigration status of all offenders, closing the asylum hotel in Epping, repealing the Human Rights Act for immigration matters, and deporting illegal immigrants on arrival from France without judicial process?
Minister reply
The Minister repeats that any allegation of crime or sexual assault is treated seriously. She criticises the previous Conservative government's approach to asylum and immigration, highlighting the increase in foreign national offenders removed by her government compared to the Conservative period. The minister emphasises that her government is addressing illegal working and cracking down on criminal gangs.
Question
Can the Minister set out what the Government are doing to stamp out illegal working, especially through the new fair work agency introduced by the Employment Rights Bill?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that her hon. Friend is looking at this issue and highlights efforts to hold companies accountable for employing individuals from asylum hotels illegally. She mentions plans to ensure gig economy employers check immigration status.
Question
What steps are the Government taking to deliver efficient asylum systems that swiftly return those without a genuine right to stay?
Minister reply
The Minister agrees on the need for clear rules and enforcement to rebuild public trust. She outlines efforts to deal with the backlog inherited from previous governments, ensuring swift removal of people who should not be in the country.
Question
Can the Minister confirm what further enforcement there can be regarding companies that incentivise illegal immigration?
Minister reply
Work is already under way on this issue, with conversations between the Immigration Minister and employers about where work should not be taking place due to individuals’ immigration status. There has been investment in the National Crime Agency for additional officers working on this issue.
Question
This is a real national crisis, and there is such an outcry and outrage in the country that people will take the law into their own hands. What measures can we take to prevent this?
Minister reply
We need a functioning system where applications are dealt with swiftly, people are not waiting for years for decisions on their applications, and those who should not be in the UK are removed.
Question
What assessment has been made of any coordination of violence by groups involved in recent incidents?
Minister reply
We absolutely believe that peaceful protest is part of our democratic process, but there are always people who seek to exploit situations. The police are aware of literature being distributed and other groups going to Epping to stir up problems.
Question
Following recent violent protests in Epping, what action will the Government take now to address community safety?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary and the Government are committed to closing all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.
Question
Why did the Conservatives and Reform vote against the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which allows for tagging of high-risk individuals?
Minister reply
I have absolutely no idea; it is for the shadow Home Secretary to explain that one.
Question
What actions are the Government taking to support authorities in the prosecution of those who whip up this furore both online and offline?
Minister reply
A great deal of work has been undertaken since the disorder last summer to ensure that intelligence is gathered from the online space, as well as the offline space.
Question
Does the Minister agree that public safety must come first and that it is indefensible that the Tory party and Reform opposed measures allowing tagging of high-risk individuals?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend—public safety must be a priority.
Question
Does the Minister have any special method to send back asylum seekers convicted of an offence to countries we cannot return them to?
Minister reply
This is about not granting asylum to those who are convicted of a registered sexual offence, so it is not recognising that they have an asylum claim.
Question
Why did the Conservatives and Reform vote against measures common sense for individuals convicted of sexual crimes to be barred from receiving protection in the UK?
Minister reply
Again, that is a matter for each individual Opposition Member to explain to their constituents.
Question
What actions are being taken to counter false narratives about asylum seekers and migrants in communities?
Minister reply
We should look carefully at social media sites, use critical thinking, and seek reliable media sources for information. We need to address how social media has moved things on in society.
Question
Over the past year, how many gangs have actually been smashed?
Minister reply
As I understand it, the National Crime Agency has over 80 ongoing investigations into networks and 100 new NCA officers have been recruited to focus solely on this issue.
Question
What work is the Minister doing across Government to ensure that communities can come together again after violent disorder and live in peace?
Minister reply
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been working with local authorities on rebuilding community cohesion, which stops those who wish to divide people and recognises the valuable role all parts of society play.
Question
Does the Minister agree that it is time to detain illegal migrants crossing the channel and deport them immediately?
Minister reply
The statistic mentioned comes from a newspaper, although I am willing to have a look at it. At Manston, information and biometrics are taken from people who come across in small boats.
Question
Will the Minister confirm that she is engaging with other Departments on reviewing streaming activity to ensure it does not promote violence and criminality?
Minister reply
There are ongoing conversations with the Home Office and other Government Departments to address such postings which have been a problem particularly in the terrorist field.
Question
What legal reasons are cited by the Immigration Minister for the Government and Serco refusing to tell MPs and local people when migrants move into their constituencies?
Minister reply
Local Members of Parliament, local councils and the police are all engaged when people are moved into certain areas of the country.
Question
Does the Minister agree it is time to consider Labour’s ID cards plan to reduce pull factors for new migrants?
Minister reply
The Government have been taking action over the past 12 months to deal with illegal working, leading to a rise in visits and arrests.
Question
Can the Minister urgently look into an issue regarding families being asked to move from an asylum hotel with no notice?
Minister reply
I am happy to pass on that issue to the Immigration Minister.
Question
Can the Minister set out the Government’s sensible approach to end the use of hotels as hostels for asylum seekers?
Minister reply
The number of hotels has gone down under this Labour Government and the aim is to reduce the overall bill by £1 billion.
Question
Does the Minister regret cancelling the Rwanda scheme?
Minister reply
Violent disorder is not a symptom—it is criminal, it should be prosecuted, and people should face the full consequences of the law.
Question
Has the bill also come down as the number of hotels has decreased?
Minister reply
The number of hotels has come down and we aim to reduce the overall bill by £1 billion.
Question
When will the Minister put in place an effective deterrent that protects not just our borders, but our citizens?
Minister reply
We are working with source and transit companies to stop dangerous journeys before they begin, stepping up law enforcement, strengthening border security, securing returns agreements with France, cracking down on illegal working, and reforming the asylum system.
Question
While migrant hotels cost the British taxpayer billions, migrants are now being moved into houses in multiple occupation, taking houses from local people and causing misery for neighbours. Can the right hon. Lady tell the House how many migrants have been moved into HMOs? What is the cost to the British taxpayer?
Minister reply
What I can tell the hon. Lady is that we inherited a huge backlog of claims for asylum. One of the important parts of dealing with the backlog is processing those claims and determining whether people have an asylum claim that can be successful; if it is not, they should then be returned. That is the whole purpose of closing the hotels, as we will speed up the processing of the applications.
Question
Last month, the Immigration Minister could not tell me in a written answer how many illegal asylum seekers have a criminal record. My constituents are concerned about criminal activity and antisocial behaviour caused by an asylum hotel in my constituency. When will the Minister come to this House and meet her manifesto commitment to close the asylum hotel in my constituency?
Minister reply
As I have said a number of times, this Government are committed to closing all hotels by the end of this Parliament. Fewer hotels are open now than when we came into power last July.
Question
The majority of British citizens are law-abiding, and they are concerned about the impact of mass migration on their communities. A deterrent would go some way towards restoring trust in the asylum system. When will the Government implement a deterrent to send those entering the country illegally to a safe third country?
Minister reply
As I have just set out in great detail, we have a plan. Let me say respectfully to the hon. Gentleman that the plan that the previous Government had resulted in four volunteers, I think, going to Rwanda. A general election was called; the then Prime Minister decided to call a general election. Why did he not let the scheme operate if it was such a success? That is the real question.
Question
The House will be aware of serious street disturbances in my constituency last month following an alleged rape of a young 14-year-old girl. The chief suspect has fled back to Romania. Does the Minister agree that extradition that works is imperative, and that extradition that works expeditiously is even more imperative?
Minister reply
Clearly that is a live matter before the courts, but I want people to be held to account for their actions. If that involves extradition, that is the right thing to do.
Question
All too often we hear about criminal activity by immigrants and asylum seekers across the UK. My constituents ask me all the time—every weekend—what steps will be taken to ensure a zero-tolerance policy for migrants awaiting an asylum decision, so that if they are detained for any kind of criminal activity during that time, they will be sent back to their country of origin as a matter of urgency?
Minister reply
As I said at the outset, whoever perpetrates a crime will be held to account, and there will be consequences. I hope I have been clear that that includes people who are making asylum applications, as well as the wider general public.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledges the arrest of a man in Epping and stresses the importance of criminal justice procedures. She highlights the government's efforts to improve joint protection arrangements between police and immigration enforcement, and mentions plans to remove foreign national criminals from the UK and strengthen laws against illegal working. The minister emphasises that the government is taking steps to end hotel use by clearing the asylum backlog and increasing returns, while also addressing small boat crossings. She commits to enforcing rules and ensuring public safety through strong border security measures.