A councillor who saw ‘disorder’ at an asylum seeker hotel in Reading has spoken out after witnessing “intimidating behaviour.”
Police attended the former Ibis hotel in Oxford Road, West Reading, at around 7.15pm on (Wednesday, April 1).
The hotel is known as a place that the Home Office is using to house asylum seekers while their claims for refuge are processed.
Asylum seekers are foreign nationals who have arrived unannounced in the country and make requests to the government to settle out of fear of violence in their home countries.
Photos show a large group of men wearing sandals standing outside the hotel, police officers and a man in handcuffs.
Councillor Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) said: “Scenes of disorder outside the Ibis Hotel in Oxford Road are completely unacceptable, and residents are justified in their alarm.
“Those involved are predominantly young men, and there is no excuse for intimidating behaviour or disruptions in our community.
“I’ve spoken directly with local residents and shop owners who have called me to raise their concerns.
“They tell me about the impact on trade and sense of safety in Oxford Road. This is happening on our doorsteps, and it cannot be ignored.
“We face a stark contrast: rough-sleeping in our town with individuals living on the streets, versus public funds spent on long-term hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, often stretching local services and deepening residents’ sense of unfairness.
“This situation places immense pressure on local resources, police, and the safety of our streets, and it is fundamentally unjust to residents.
“Local Conservatives demand an immediate review by the council on planning, licensing, and safety issues at this site, insist on clear data showing how hotels impact policing, antisocial behaviour, and local resources, and advocate for quicker asylum decisions and a transparent plan to end hotel use — enabling more support for rough sleepers and vulnerable residents.
“Our community deserves better.”
Thames Valley Police has been contacted for more information.
Labour Battle ward councillors Wendy Griffith and Amjad Tarar have been contacted for an opportunity to comment.
Hotels have been used as asylum seeker accommodation since March 2020 under the previous Conservative government.
The Ibis in Oxford Road closed in July 2021, and has been identified as asylum seeker accommodation by YouTube ‘auditor’ Truth Hurts 101 UK.
Epping council attempted a legal challenge against the use of hotels for asylum seekers, which failed at a High Court hearing in November last year.
