Asylum Seeker Wristbands Scrapped After Public Outcry

A housing firm that provides accommodation, food and support to asylum seekers has scrapped their wristband system after public outcry.

Home Office contractor, Clearsprings Ready Homes, has ceased the use of its brightly-colour wristbands allowing refugees to claim breakfast, lunch and dinner after a human rights group labelled them "appalling". Despite the firm insisting the bands were discreet, many claimed them to be stigmatising asylum seekers and treating them as lesser beings.

In a statement to the Guardian, Clearsprings Ready Homes said:

"Asylum seekers who spend their initial few weeks at our full-board accommodation in Cardiff have been provided with wristbands since May 2015 to ensure they receive the services they are entitled to and to make sure those more vulnerable asylum seekers have access to their specific requirements.

"As in numerous such establishments where large numbers of people are being provided with services, wristbands are considered to be one of the most reliable and effective ways of guaranteeing delivery.

"We are always reviewing the way we supply our services and have decided to cease the use of wristbands as of Monday 25th January and will look for an alternative way of managing the fair provision of support."

If you need help with a visa application for Asylum, contact our immigration solicitors on 01204 526 465 for advice.

HSK Solicitors

Immigration Solicitors