Crime & Safety
Oxford asylum seeker hotel could close as 11 earmarked
Migrants living in the Holiday Inn Express, off Grenoble Road near the Kassam Stadium, could be removed soon should they be included in the Government’s list.
Ever since it started housing asylum seekers in around 2022, the Holiday Inn Express has been subject to multiple protests.
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So far, the Home Office shut the Banbury House Hotel in Banbury in February this year and removed those living within to “cheaper alternative accommodation” but the town’s MP Sean Woodcock failed to say where.
The latest Home Office figures, published in February, reveals there are 423 asylum seekers housed temporarily in hotels across Oxfordshire.
The expected wave of closures, reported by The Guardian, are part of the Government’s pledge to no longer use such facilities by 2029 amid mounting pressure over rising costs and a backlash in local communities.
Last year, a total of £4 billion was spent on asylum support in the UK, and as of December there were 107,003 people in receipt of asylum support with 30,657 in around 200 asylum hotels, according to the Home Office.
The Home Office will hold a private “industry day” this week for existing and prospective providers of asylum accommodation, where attendees have to sign non-disclosure agreements, The Guardian reported.
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The meeting will focus on the re-tendering of asylum accommodation contracts ending in 2029 under the Future Asylum Accommodation Contracts, which is aimed at curbing reliance on hotel use.
The newspaper said senior sources among current providers had expressed concerns that the new arrangements could lead to a sharp rise in the number of contractors and a bigger bill for the taxpayer.
The Government announced in October that barracks in Scotland and southern England would be used to house around 900 men temporarily, as part of efforts to stop using hotels to temporarily house asylum seekers.
A Home Office spokesman said: “This Government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain and ramping up removals of those with no right to be here.
“That is why we will close every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.
“The population in asylum hotels has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last year and by 45 per cent since the peak under the previous government – cutting costs by nearly £1 billion.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced last month that the statutory legal duty under EU law to provide asylum seekers with support and accommodation would be replaced with a conditional approach, among other measures to toughen up the UK asylum system.
From June, asylum seekers who break the law or work illegally will be thrown out of government-funded accommodation and lose their support payments.
Leonardo Silvestre, aged 23 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Monday (April 13).
He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 12.
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This follows his arrest on April 10 at Denchworth Road, Wantage.
Thames Valley Police said they stopped a male “posing as a food‑delivery rider after suspicious behaviour caught our attention”.
The force added: “That instinct paid off — during a search we recovered 16 wraps of cocaine and over £1,000 in cash. All seized.”
The police team said that this was part of their ongoing crackdown on drugs in Wantage.
They said: “Our recent survey told us loud and clear that our community wants us to focus on drug-related activity—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Over the next few days they had several other encounters with possible drugs offenders, including arresting a man, reportedly mid drug deal, on April 11, at Naldertown in Wantage.
The force said: “As a result, a 22-year-old male from outside the area was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
“Drugs and cash were located on him, and his vehicle was seized.”
That man has since been released on police bail until June 26.
On April 12 they saw another man engaging in drug-related activity in Wantage with the suspect running from the police officers.
“Despite our best efforts—and assistance from the police helicopter—we were unable to locate him,” the police said.
They added: “However, we did seize his vehicle, along with cash and significant items inside.”
As of Friday, April 17 no arrests have been made in the case.
In one of their updates the Wantage and Grove neighbourhood police team warned that much of the drugs activity in the area relates to ‘county lines’.
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The police explained: “It’s when organised drug networks from big cities push into smaller towns, exploiting vulnerable people to move drugs and money. It brings violence, fear and exploitation into communities that deserve better.
“This is one of several arrests we’ve made recently. Every time county lines tries to creep into Wantage, we’ll be there — and we’ll stop them.
“A huge thank‑you to our fantastic colleagues from Abingdon and Faringdon neighbourhood police teams for backing us up. Teamwork keeps our communities safe.”
Thames Valley Police said they confiscated the vehicle today (Friday, April 17) as it was on the roads uninsured.
In addition to the vehicle seizure, the driver has been reported.
A spokesperson for the Roads Policing team said: “First vehicle seizure of the late shift today by XRC01 on the A41 near Bicester.
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“Driver was going to get around to insuring it at the weekend. Vehicle seized. Driver reported.”
This follows an incident on Wednesday, April 15 when a Vauxhall car was confiscated by Thames Valley Police.
The police attempted to talk to the driver of the car who then “made off” after which the car was located and recovered from its registered address.
Dr Tina Tian, a consultant dermatologist at Stratum Dermatology Clinic Oxford, has provided advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen amid a warning about leaving kid’s skin unprotected.
This not only comes ahead of Melanoma Awareness Month (May) but also with a heatwave predicted for much of the south of England.
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The Daily Express has said that temperatures in counties, including Oxfordshire, could soon soar to up to 23°C, citing the latest ECMWF weather model.
Its data reveals temperatures are likely to peak on April 29.
Considering this Dr Tian and Dr Ross Perry, GP and medical director of Cosmedics, have highlighted the importance of encouraging children to wear sunscreen.
Dr Perry said: “Children’s skin is significantly more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin.
“The outer barrier isn’t fully developed, which means ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates more easily and can cause damage at a deeper cellular level.
“What many people don’t realise is that a proportion of lifetime sun damage actually occurs before the age of 18.
“Even a handful of serious sunburns in childhood can increase the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, later in life.”
Dr Tian agrees with Dr Perry and has provided some advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen.
This includes making it part of their routine, involving them in the process and turning it into a game.
Dr Tian said: “I often ask my daughter what kind of face she wants me to paint with the sunscreen to try to make it more fun.”
She also suggested non-stinging sunscreen.
“When sunscreen gets into children’s eyes, it can really sting so look out for sunscreen that is labelled as non-stinging,” she advised.
“The P20 one is really good due to the fact that it’s so water-resistant, so it doesn’t really move and won’t migrate into the eyes and make them sting.”
The experts also advised explaining why it’s important, using age-appropriate language, and to make it a reciprocal process.
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Dr Tian said: “With my son I find it really helpful to get him to put some sunscreen on me first to make it a bit of a reciprocal thing.”
Finally, she suggested letting children play with the lids and to warm up the cream beforehand.
She said: “A lot of sun creams have lids and you can draw funny faces on the lid and let your kids play with it while you’re doing the cream.”
She added: “Sun cream often feels very cold, so it can help to warm it up in your hands a bit before you start putting it on your child so it’s not too much of a shock for them.”
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