Female Asylum Seekers Report Sexual Violence in UK Hotels

Female asylum seekers in the United Kingdom report experiencing rape and sexual assault perpetrated by British men, including hotel security guards, staff members, and a private immigration lawyer. Survivors state that a lack of legal aid, fear of police, and concerns regarding their asylum claims prevent them from pursuing criminal prosecutions.

Rape Crisis England & Wales and the British Red Cross have warned of a pervasive culture of sexual harassment and inadequate safeguarding within accommodation contracted by the Home Office. Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England & Wales, highlighted a lack of appropriate safeguards to protect these women from abuse and exploitation.

These reports coincide with far-right agitator Daniel Murphy using unsubstantiated claims of asylum seekers committing rapes to motivate protests in Dover and Portsmouth. The group Women for Refugee Women criticized this tactic, stating that the weaponization of violence against women by far-right groups serves to demonize people seeking safety.

The Home Office has responded by pointing to existing guidance for assessing risks to victims in asylum accommodation, though advocacy groups maintain that systemic violence and racist stereotypes create significant barriers to justice.