Asylum seekers ‘abused and intimidated by staff in Home Office hotels’

Workers for subcontractor Serco have spoken about a culture of ‘institutional abuse’ by management at five hotels in and around Liverpool

Asylum seekers staying at Home Office hotels in and around Liverpool are alleged to have been harassed, humiliated and subjected to verbal and emotional abuse from senior hotel staff, according to an investigation for the Observer.

Sources working for the Home Office subcontractor Serco have described what they believe is a culture of “institutional abuse” at five Merseyside hotels, including the Suites hotel in Knowsley, where violent far-right protests took place in February. Sources include current and former contractors recruited to work in Home Office hotels for Serco.