General · 26 February 2026
Hotel use for asylum seekers falls to 18-month low, Home Office figures show
New Home Office data shows 30,657 asylum seekers were being accommodated in hotels in December, the lowest total recorded in a year and a half. Ministers say firmer border enforcement has helped reduce reliance on hotel housing. However, the same figures reveal an increase in Channel small boat crossings and a drop in the proportion of successful asylum claims. Refugee organisations have warned that stricter rules risk blocking protection for people in genuine need.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs