Eviction on hold for asylum seekers

ASYLUM seekers served with eviction notices in Glasgow have been granted a temporary reprieve following mass protests.

Home Office contractor Serco announced last night it had ‘paused’ all proposed lock-changes for 21 days.

The last-minute decision came hours after hundreds of protesters gathered yesterday outside the Home Office headquarters in Glasgow, where two Afghan men have been on hunger strike.

Last week Serco issued notices to six people warning that their locks would be changed within seven days. It emerged a further 240 people also faced eviction.

In a statement the firm confirmed it would ‘pause all further lock-change notices to other asylum seekers who have received negative decisions whilst the law is being tested and clarified’.

It added: ‘This will also give stakeholders who support asylum seekers more time to prepare for what is likely to be an increase in the number of people seeking their help.’

Serco is employed by the Government to house 5,000 asylum seekers in the city.

However, it says it often has to provide housing for failed asylum seekers without recompense.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: ‘I welcome the confirmation from Serco that they will pause asylum seeker evictions for the time being.’

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘This Government believes that nobody should end up homeless and destitute where they have sought refuge.’