The health, safety and wellbeing of our asylum seekers and the local community is of the utmost priority. Serco will closely engage with the police and fire authorities to ensure any concerns are addressed in an open and transparent forum. Serco has a dedicated Partnership team who are responsible for any safeguarding issues. The team also engages with local community groups and 3rd sector and faith groups to facilitate mutual understanding through workshops, drop-in groups and activities. All of the above agencies, including police and fire, meet on a regular basis at the Multi Agency Forum (MAF), which Serco will also attend.
FAQ’s
How will Serco ensure the health, safety and well-being of the asylum seekers and the local community?
What will the asylum seekers do every day?
Asylum seekers are free to come and go and there are no restrictions placed upon their day-to-day whereabouts. There are a number of appointments they are required to attend with the Home Office. In addition, our Partnership team will facilitate on site leisure activities.
Are the asylum seekers able to work and/or have access to benefits?
No, the asylum seekers are not allowed to work whilst their claim for asylum is being assessed. Nor do they have access to any benefits that would be afforded to a UK citizen. They do however receive a daily payment of £5.00 per person.
What influence do the local community have in this process?
There is no requirement to consult the local community on a change of use planning application, however, Serco is undertaking this engagement exercise to provide more information to the local community. Stafford Borough Council will consult local residents and statutory consultees as part of its determination of the planning application.
Do you envisage any site access safety issues – in vehicles or on foot?
No. Serco briefs all our asylum seekers on the basics of road safety as part of their induction. We will be using existing entrance and exit points for vehicular access.
We do not anticipate traffic to significantly increase as only Serco authorised vehicles will be using the site.
Do you have crime statistics for similar establishments?
Through our close engagement with local police authorities, we are advised that crime has not increased in areas where any of our properties are located.
Will asylum seekers hang around on the streets outside Stafford Court?
Serco advises people staying at our accommodation not to congregate in groups, as we are mindful that some members of the local community could perceive this as unsettling.
What steps will be taken to minimise noise from Stafford Court?
We do not anticipate noise levels to be significantly high and as the property will be staffed 24 hours a day, this will be closely managed.
Are records maintained to ensure asylum seekers do not “disappear”? What happens if they do?
If any of our asylum seekers do not obtain prior notification before leaving the accommodation for more than 24 hours, Serco will report any absences to the Home Office for further action.
How many asylum seekers are currently located in Stafford?
Serco does not currently accommodate any asylum seekers in Stafford.
When would Stafford Court be open for use by asylum seekers?
If planning is successful, we would hope to open the accommodation centre by the end of 2022.
How long will Stafford Court be used to house asylum seekers?
The term of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC) between Serco and the Home Office expires on 31st August 2029 and so it is anticipated that the use of Stafford Court will continue until that date.
What’s the difference between IA and DA?
Initial Accommodation is urgent short-term accommodation for asylum seekers who need somewhere to stay before their support applications can be fully assessed and they can be allocated to longer-term accommodation. Usually, asylum seekers stay in IA for around three to four weeks before moving to Dispersed Accommodation (DA).
Dispersed Accommodation (DA) is longer-term temporary accommodation for asylum seekers who have left IA and are waiting for their asylum claim to be fully determined.
How long will the asylum seekers be housed in the student accommodation?
Typically, asylum seekers will stay in IA for between three and four weeks.
Once moved to DA, asylum seekers remain here until their application is determined which can range from months to years.
Does that mean that people from the IA will automatically move to the DA at Stafford Court?
The Home Office will decide where to allocate asylum seekers into longer term dispersed accommodation after their support applications have been assessed. Some may remain at Stafford Court and some will be moved to other accommodation.
What experience of accommodating asylum seekers does Serco have?
Serco has been operating and managing asylum accommodation since 2012 and currently operates more than 6,500 residential properties across the North West, Midlands and East of England. This includes three Initial Accommodation facilities in the North West and two Initial Accommodation facilities in the Midlands and East of England region.
Will there be any children in the accommodation and will they be attending local schools?
Families which comprise children may be accommodated within the Initial Accommodation part of Stafford Court, though they would not attend school during their short period of stay. Within the Dispersed Accommodation part of Stafford Court, we will only be providing accommodation for single male and female asylum seekers.