Spelthorne Borough Council held an Extraordinary Council Meeting last night to discuss the ongoing concerns surrounding the use of the Stanwell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.
Ahead of the publication of the formal minutes of the meeting, below is the wording of the motion which was agreed by the majority vote:
“In light of the decision made on the 19th of August by Mr Justice Eyre, granting Epping Forest District Council an injunction to cease the inappropriate use of the Bell Hotel in its district as an asylum seekers centre. That this council, without delay:
• Engages the services of an experienced KC to represent Spelthorne Borough Council in taking all and any available action and exploring all avenues with regards to Stanwell Hall Hotel and stopping its use as an asylum seekers centre
• Lobby the Home Office to cease relying on hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.”
The meeting can be viewed here.
Meanwhile, the Met Police has released a statement ahead of the weekend in relation to immigration protests.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan says:
“As we deal with these more resource intensive protests and events in central London, we are also planning for further protests at or near hotels accommodating asylum seekers in London.
“We have seen a number of similar protests in recent weeks.
“Let me start by saying that we understand the strength of feeling on this issue and we have no interest in standing in the way of protest providing it is peaceful and lawful. That is not our role.
“Sadly, last weekend we saw a minority cross the line into criminality, including unacceptable aggression directed at officers both in Canary Wharf and West Drayton.
“In one incident, masked men confronted officers inside a shopping centre in Canary Wharf. Officers had to use force, including PAVA spray, to protect themselves.
“There has been commentary on social media about this particular incident, with some claims that officers intentionally directed that force towards women and a child. That is not true.
“We are making video footage available to provide an insight into the challenging situation they faced.
“We’d continue to urge anyone taking part in these protests to do so lawfully and to cooperate with officers.
“We would also urge anyone protesting to consider their own responsibilities for the safety of their children if they’re bringing them to protests and putting them in close proximity to confrontational situations.
“Some have suggested that our officers are in the wrong because they are not taking a side in these protests.
“That is fundamentally not what we are here to do.
“Our role in the context of protest remains as it always has been:
To police without fear or favour.
To enforce the law.
To keep the peace by ensuring groups with opposing views do not come together.
And to prevent serious disorder and serious disruption to ordinary people going about their lives.
“We have a responsibility to ensure those exercising their right to protest can do so safely.
“You see this play out every week in London with thousands of people regularly taking to the streets to demonstrate with minimal criminality, disorder or need for police intervention.
“However, when protests cross the line into criminality our officers have a duty to act.
“We will intervene and we will make arrests where we need to.”
