Voters' concerns over the safety of women and girls are now the primary driver of opposition to new migrant accommodation sites, according to a recent poll. The survey indicates that over half of individuals who oppose asylum sites near their homes cite fears for women's safety, a significant increase from 32% a year prior.
This rise in safety concerns follows the publication of an official Home Office leaflet intended for newly arrived migrants, which warned them that rape and sexual harassment are illegal in Britain. A poll by More in Common found that while 69% of Britons believe the government should provide guidance on UK law and expected behaviors to migrants, 61% interpreted the leaflet's existence as proof that asylum seekers pose a threat to the safety of women and girls.
Public safety concerns have surpassed cost to the taxpayer as the leading priority for the public when determining where asylum seekers should be housed.
Luke Tryl, More in Common's UK Director, noted a shift in public conversation regarding asylum accommodation. "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 risks reinforcing these public fears. "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."
In parallel, plans to redistribute asylum seekers to different areas have divided public opinion. More in Common's findings suggest that 39% of the public believes the government should house migrants in the cheapest available locations, even if it leads to a higher concentration in less affluent areas.