Fears for the safety of women and girls are increasingly influencing public opposition to new accommodation for asylum seekers, according to a recent poll. The survey found that over half of those who oppose new asylum sites near their homes now cite concerns for local women's safety as their primary reason, a significant increase from 32 percent a year prior.
This rise in safety concerns follows a public discussion ignited by an official Home Office leaflet intended to inform new migrants about British laws and expected behaviors, including warnings about rape and sexual harassment. The poll by More in Common revealed that 69 percent of Britons believe the government should provide such guidance to migrants. However, it also highlighted that 61 percent interpreted the leaflet's publication as proof that asylum seekers pose a threat to women and girls.
Public safety has emerged as the leading priority for the public when considering the location of asylum seeker housing, with taxpayer cost ranking as the second most important factor. The poll also indicated a divided public opinion regarding proposals to relocate asylum seekers to more affluent areas. While 39 percent believe migrants should be housed in the most cost-effective locations, even if it concentrates them in poorer areas, others have differing views.
Luke Tryl, More in Common's UK Director, noted a shift in public discourse. "At one point, the conversation about asylum accommodation centred on the eye–watering cost of hotels," Tryl stated. "Over the past year, that's changed, and the public's main fear now is safety, and above all, the safety of women and girls. Concerns about costs, pressure on services and housing availability have been overtaken by fears about safety, crime and cultural compatibility."
Tryl added that the government's new guidance for asylum seekers, while supported in principle by most, risks amplifying public anxieties. "Most people support providing the guidance in principle, and believe it's necessary. But for many, that necessity proves that there is a real danger to the safety of women and girls," he said.