ASYLUM SEEKER ROW FIRM LOSE CONTRACT

Firm who locked asylum seekers out of their homes lose contract

A COMPANY caught up in a lock-changing row have lost their asylum accommodation contract for Scotland.

Serco, who were contracted by the Home Office, will stop delivering the accommodation north of the Border from September.

Mears Group have been awarded the contract.

Private providers Serco were blasted last summer when they announced a rolling lock change eviction process for those not given refugee status in Glasgow.

But their plans stalled in the face of legal challenges at the Court of Session and Glasgow Sheriff

Court. Last night, the Scottish Refugee Council welcomed the news about the new contract.

Policy officer Graham O’Neill said: “It is time for a new approach and in Glasgow we welcome this new chapter in supporting people seeking refugee protection.

“Providing housing to people in need is an essential public service and the rights, needs and dignity of people seeking refugee protection must be at the heart of the work of the Mears Group as they take over from Serco.

“We want to see the new housing providers working collaboratively with Glasgow City Council, sharing decision-making with the council and working transparently with local services and communities.”

Serco admitted they were “disappointed” to have lost the contract.

But Julia Rogers, their managing director of immigration business, claimed: “I know that our team in Glasgow delivered a service that has seen the asylum seekers in our care treated with dignity and respect and provided with accommodation that not only meets all the required standards, but is some of the most heavily inspected in the country.”