Asylum hotel protests latest: Government vows to fast-track deportations

Three arrests were made at the protest outside the Four Points hotel in Horley, Surrey Police said.

Two of the arrests were made for reach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice.

Chief Superintendent Juliet Parker said: “Our officers were outside the hotel this morning to support the public’s right to lawful protest. Unfortunately, while the majority of those present were protesting lawfully, there were some individuals whose behaviour became disruptive, and they were arrested.

“Officers were also present to minimise disruption to the local community. We appreciate that there was some disruption on the roads around the hotel while the protest was taking place and we would like to thank all those affected for their patience.”

Police made 11 arrests in Liverpool following a protest by UKIP and a counter-protest on Saturday.

People from different groups gathered outside St George’s Hall from around 11am this morning and there was a large police presence to ensure the safety of all those taking part and the wider public.

A march by UKIP began at around 1.20pm, but shortly afterwards the procession was directed back to St George’s Hall.

Police said they respect the rights of everyone to take part in a lawful and peaceful protests, but never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour.

Arrests were made for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray.

Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: “We will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour and despite the vast majority of people protesting lawfully, and peacefully, sadly there were a number of people who were arrested for various offences, including public order offences and assault.”

He added: “The police are often faced with the challenge of treading the fine line between upholding everyone’s rights to protest equitably, whilst endeavouring to keep the peace and ensure the public are safe. We plan ahead, in a co-ordinated way, to ensure we do this consistently, fairly and proportionately.

“We would like to thank members of the public and businesses in the city centre for their patience during the course of this event.”

There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, taking on average more than a year to reach a decision.

As measures have been put in place to speed up initial decisions, court delays over appeals are now thought to be the biggest cause of pressure in the asylum accommodation system.

The Government plans to set up a new independent panel focused on asylum appeals to help reduce the backlog.

The new independent body will use professionally-trained adjudicators, rather than relying on judges.

Ministers are introducing a new 24-week deadline for the first-tier tribunal to determine asylum appeals by those receiving accommodation support and appeals by foreign offenders.

But they believe the current tribunal system, which covers a wide range of different cases, is still failing to ensure failed asylum seekers can be returned as swiftly as possible, nor can it accommodate a fast-track system for safe countries.

The Government will set out further details of plans for asylum system reforms in the autumn, drawing on lessons from other European countries which have faster appeals systems – including some which run independent appeals bodies similar to the one being proposed.

A new fast-track asylum appeals process will be introduced to speed up the process of removing people with no right to be in the UK, Yvette Cooper has promised, amid protests about the use of hotel accommodation for migrants.

There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, taking on average more than a year to reach a decision.

The Home Secretary said the overhaul would result in a system which is “swift, fair and independent, with high standards in place”.

She said: “We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end.

“That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system.

“We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels.

“Already since the election we have reduced the backlog of people waiting for initial decisions by 24 per cent and increased failed asylum returns by 30 per cent.

“But we cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays in appeals as a result of the system we have inherited which mean that failed asylum seekers stay in the system for years on end at huge cost to the taxpayer.”

Emma Taylor-Beale, who is protesting for Stand Up to Racism in Horley said: “I’ve got a heart for anyone who’s got a need and our migrant community deserve protection, they deserve dignity, they’ve been through enough.”

She said she was not surprised at the number of anti-immigration protesters that had turned out to the demonstration, given what she had seen on social media.

Ms Taylor-Beale said: “This time last year when we had the riots in the summer, all of us showing support were the massive majority in Brighton and in Crawley, and the far-right were there, but they weren’t like the members of the public.

“This isn’t just the far-right, you can’t label everyone on that side who’s come out as far-right, I think people are buying into lies, they’re angry, they’re hurt and people have got a reason to be angry right now.”

She argued that economic inequality and the housing crisis was at the root of the divide.