I was first alerted to the possibility of the Dilkhusa being used as an asylum hotel back in October, I was concerned. Not because it is not right that North Devon helps with the burden of asylum seekers elsewhere in the country, but that no consultation had taken place with the council, police or health services. They, like myself, did not believe Ilfracombe was the right place to help those seeking asylum. I received written assurances from the Home Office the Dilkhusa, and indeed no hotel in Ilfracombe would be used.
Unfortunately, with the unfolding situation at the Manston centre in Kent, a large number of people who had been staying there needed to be rapidly moved. The Dilkhusa, along with numerous other hotels across the country, were stood up without any notification being given to Councils or MPs. One of my particular concerns is for communities, like Ilfracombe where tourism is a key part of the local economy, is removing hotel rooms, removes visitors who would otherwise spend elsewhere in the town, and I have raised this specific concern in the Chamber this week.
I believe the processes the Home Office have followed to be fundamentally flawed. I also have grave concerns about the amount of time it is taking to process asylum claims. I will continue to raise these points at Westminster, having spoken out in the Chamber twice already, and am meeting at Number Ten this week as well to further try and find solutions. I am reassured that the new ministerial team are taking significant steps to get to grips with the problems very rapidly.
However, in the interim, we do have vulnerable people now staying in Ilfracombe, who risked their lives to try and start a better life in our country. It is not their fault that the system is broken and has left them in a hotel in our lovely community. I am pleased to see the compassion within Ilfracombe reaching out to support them, and knowing there are families there I do hope this will continue, and I will continue to work to improve processes, and hopefully speed up processing their claims so they can resume their lives beyond the limbo they are currently living in.
With regards to small boats crossing the Channel, this situation has become increasingly difficult in recent years. I am delighted that our new Prime Minister has this week met with the French Prime Minister, at COP27 as international co-operation is vital.
The Government's work with France has stopped more than 29,000 illegal crossings since the start of the year, twice as many as last year, and destroyed over 1,000 boats. The UK-France joint intelligence cell has also dismantled over 50 organised crime groups since it was established in 2020.
The Government continues to take action to prevent crossings now. I warmly welcome the announcement that the military has taken operational command of responding to small boats in the Channel, in partnership with Border Force. This will be backed up by £50 million in new funding that will deliver new boats, aerial surveillance and expert military personnel. In doing so, it will bolster Border Force teams and their existing patrol vessels and provide a Wildcat helicopter.
Together this will significantly enhance law enforcement's ability to detect boats. The increased surveillance will mean better evidence can be gathered for criminal investigations, ensuring more people smugglers who trade in these life-threatening journeys can be referred for prosecution and brought to justice.
The Royal Navy will continue to support the Home Office until January 2023 when the operational arrangements will be reviewed. I understand this review was always planned.
There is more to do and we must bring to justice the ruthless criminal people smugglers whose actions endanger lives, and continue to bring economic migrants, rather than genuine refugees to our shores.
I will continue to work at Westminster to try and drive real change in some of the processes that have led to our community becoming a sanctuary, but would also like to take this opportunity to thank those within our tight knit community in North Devon who have reached out to those who find themselves having an unplanned stay with us in Ilfracombe.
Selaine Saxby MP
