ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE MOVED ON.
Byline: MARK THOMASTHE government was today sending 42 asylum seekers from Liverpool to Stokeon-Trent.
A campaign group working on their behalf claimed the decision to ship them out of the city was deliberately aimed at unsettling them to put off future asylum seekers from coming to Britain.
The asylum seekers received letters last week telling them they would be collected at 9am today, with all their belongings, and taken to Sheil Road, from where a coach would take them to Stoke.
The letter, from Refugee Action, told them: "The government does not give people who are seeking asylum a choice about where they live.
"If you do not go to your new accommodation the government may decide not to allow you to continue to live in your present accommodation and also stop your money."
The only reasons allowed for not travelling today were illness, an emergency, having been given refugee status or an appointment with the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture.
Chris Newsam, of campaign group Asylum Link Merseyside, said: "There is no logical reason for this move. They have been helped here, and many were due to start college this month to do English classes.
"This is purely a punitive measure to discourage other people from coming to this country. There is no other explanation for it."
A Home Office spokesman said: "This is a very normal procedure.
"They are currently housed in emergency accommodation.
"They will be moved to formal dispersed properties, where they will receive vouchers, and they will have a higher standard of accommodation."
CAPTION(S):
WAITING GAME: Asylums seekers wait for transportation Picture: EDDIE BARFORD
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| Publication: | Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) |
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| Date: | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Words: | 272 |
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