Dawn raid in Ealing finds illegal immigrants housed in 'squalor'

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

The housing minister Grant Shapps has encountered 39 individual tenants – 22 of them illegal immigrants – being housed in "squalid and overcrowded" conditions after a dawn raid on six properties in the London borough of Ealing.

The raid coincides with new guidance being launched by the Government making clear the wide range of powers councils have at their disposal to shut down so-called “beds in sheds”.

Mr Shapps and immigration minister Damian Green attended the raid with officials from Ealing Council and the UK Border Agency.

Magistrates’ warrants were issued ahead of the raid, which revealed that tenants were paying hundreds of pounds a week to live in squalor.

Fourteen of the immigrants were being housed in the properties' outbuildings – including young children - while the remainder were found in the houses.

The ministers said that of the 19 illegal immigrants detained, 16 were Indian nationals and three were Pakistani nationals. They said nine has entered the country without leave, eight were overstayers, one was a failed asylum seeker while another one was working in breach of his visa conditions.

The new guidance reminds councils of their legal powers to tackle the problem and how they can work with the new national taskforce which has been set up between Whitehall departments, the police, the UK Border Agency and local government.

Mr Shapps said thousands of sheds and outbuildings are being rented out illegally to vulnerable migrants who can often find it difficult to return home having destroyed their passports to avoid removal.

Shapps said it is unacceptable that people are living in squalid, unsafe accommodation provided by landlords “more interested in a quick profit rather then their basic responsibilities”.

He said: “The actions of these rogue landlords are helping fuel illegal working and benefit fraud and creates a shadow housing market that carries dangers to peoples health as well as community relations.

“I want to see all agencies from councils to the police and the UK Border Agency using the full range of powers at their disposal to work together on a national clampdown towards ridding our communities of this problem once and for all.”

Mr Green said: “Operations like this show our determination to do whatever is necessary, working alongside local authorities and police, to enforce our laws against those who are in the UK illegally.

“The UK Border Agency continues to gather intelligence about those illegally in the country. Those with no right to be in the UK must leave the country. If they need help to leave the country voluntarily we will offer it but if they refuse we will enforce there removal.”

Today's guidance is backed up by the recent allocation of £1.8million to councils earlier this year to tackle the issue.