Political leaders must “take a clear stand” and condemn violence against asylum seekers, charities have said, after the home secretary was accused of victim blaming after a riot outside a hotel in Merseyside.
Refugee organisations have signed an open letter after “horrifying” scenes on Friday outside the Suites hotel in Knowsley, which is housing asylum seekers. Fireworks were thrown at police and a police van was attacked with hammers and set alight.
The letter, coordinated by coalition campaign Together With Refugees, criticised “inflammatory language” and policies that “demonise” people seeking refuge, and warned of a “high risk of more premeditated extremist attacks around the country” after Friday’s violence.
The letter has more than 100 signatories, including Liverpool City of Sanctuary, Care4Calais, Share Knowsley and the Refugee Council.
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, has faced repeated criticism for her rhetoric describing people crossing the Channel. She prompted an outcry in November when she told MPs that the south coast was facing an “invasion” of illegal migrants.
And on Saturday she belatedly responded to the violence by referencing “alleged behaviour of some asylum seekers”, comments described as “victim blaming” online.
In their letter, the charities said: “Having already experienced great hardship, these men, women and children who come here for protection are now faced with violence, fuelled by inflammatory language of ‘invasion’ and policies that demonise them.
“The responsibility to create a system that is fair and compassionate, and brings cohesion instead of division, lies with our decision-makers.”
On Monday, a yellow mobile police station was operating from the hotel car park, as detectives continued to investigate Friday’s disturbances. The front gates were closed as security guards kept track of who was coming and going – mostly small groups of young men who said they were from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries in Africa or the Middle East.
Some of the hotel guests were in good spirits. Others were miserable. One, an Afghan in his early 20s, said he was fed up with being abused in the local community: “People say every day: ‘Fuck off Paki.’ Why?” His friend, another Afghan, said they stayed in their room on Friday night as what began as a protest turned into a riot, with fireworks thrown at police officers and hammers used to smash up a police van, which was then set on fire.
The hotel is next to an industrial estate in Knowsley, one of the most deprived local authority areas in England. Those staying at the 98-room hotel have to cross a busy A-road to reach a parade of local shops, a medical centre and other local amenities.
Until it started to house asylum seekers last year, the four-star hotel was popular as a wedding venue. It has a gym as well as a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and whirlpool bath. Some of the resentment towards the asylum seekers seems fuelled by the closure of the hotel to locals. “People used to have their weddings there,” said one man, who declined to be named. “Our kids learned to swim in the pool. There was the gym. It had an important community function.”
He said he knew several local people who attended Friday’s protest, and dismissed the idea that they were from far-right groups. “I knew a few people who attended and they are definitely not racist,” he said. “They were concerned about asylum seekers approaching young girls.”
Many people locally said they had seen a video on social media which purported to show a man propositioning a 15-year-old girl by the Memorial Park in Kirkby, a five-minute walk from the hotel.
Merseyside police said they had investigated the incident, which took place on 6 February.
“Following inquiries, a man in his 20s was arrested on Thursday, 9 February, in another part of the country on suspicion of a public order offence,” said the force. “A file was submitted to the CPS and on their advice, he was released with no further action.”
Others mentioned photographs they had seen on social media of a dark-skinned couple who were accused of taking photographs of children in Asda in nearby Walton. Police again investigated and found that no offences had been committed, and urged people to stop sharing the photos.
Some local residents said they had no problem with asylum seekers. “I don’t object to anyone wanting to get away from a life where there are bombs going off,” said one man. “If they want to come here and graft and pay their taxes, crack on.”
Others thought they should be sent elsewhere. “Let BoJo’s mates have them,” said one woman, whose husband was complaining that Kirkby now had a mosque. “We’re the soft ones in Kirkby – we take anyone.”
No one in Kirkby said they knew those who caused Friday’s unrest. Asked whether any named groups had organised Friday’s protest, a Merseyside police spokesperson declined to comment, saying: “That is all part of the ongoing investigation.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The home secretary has publicly condemned the appalling scenes outside the hotel and violence toward police officers on Friday night in Merseyside.
“The welfare of asylum seekers in our care is of the utmost importance and we will work with the police to ensure their safety.”
