Residents in Britain's asylum seeker hotspots have voiced concerns about feeling unsafe and "taken advantage of" by the Government's dispersal policy.
Towns and cities including Hartlepool, Swansea and Coventry have received higher proportions of asylum seekers than other areas across the UK.
Locals in these communities have raised complaints about pressures on housing availability and local services.
According to recent figures, 109,024 asylum seekers were being housed across the UK by September 2024.
While Hillingdon in west London houses the most asylum seekers per head of any UK local authority, Hartlepool ranks 10th with 49 per 10,000 people.
Residents of Hartlepool are still reeling from the murder of 70-year-old Terence Carney in October 2023 by Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid.
Kayleigh Courtney told the Daily Mail: "We knew Terrance's child. He should have felt safe in his community."
Another local, Lauren Green, complained that asylum seekers were being "prioritised" for housing while locals struggle to get doctors and dentist appointments.
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A former landlord said that many homes are being turned into HMOs in order to accommodate the influx of migrants.
In Swansea, where there are 32.6 asylum seekers per 10,000 people, market traders expressed frustration about newcomers.
A market stall worker said: "I've seen up to 30 men sitting outside Costa, I find it intimidating. They don't contribute by working or paying taxes, they don't seem to be here with families."
Coventry has the fifth highest number of supported asylum seekers in Britain with 60 per 10,000 people.
Louise, who is currently homeless, said that the houses go to asylum seekers rather than to those sleeping rough.
Zain Khan, a shop owner who moved from Pakistan four years ago, praised the the UK for allowing refugees but said the Government needs to ask them to work.
However, not all residents share negative views about asylum seekers in their communities.
Rebecca Howland, from Coventry said she had "not noticed any problems" caused by asylum seekers and described the city as "pleasant enough" to live in.
Xander Green, a 21-year-old politics student, offered a more sympathetic perspective.
"People who talk about migrants often grew up in places where they don't have that first-hand interaction with diversity," he said.
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Towns and cities including Hartlepool, Swansea and Coventry have received higher proportions of asylum seekers than other areas across the UK.
Locals in these communities have raised complaints about pressures on housing availability and local services.
According to recent figures, 109,024 asylum seekers were being housed across the UK by September 2024.
While Hillingdon in west London houses the most asylum seekers per head of any UK local authority, Hartlepool ranks 10th with 49 per 10,000 people.
Residents of Hartlepool are still reeling from the murder of 70-year-old Terence Carney in October 2023 by Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid.
Kayleigh Courtney told the Daily Mail: "We knew Terrance's child. He should have felt safe in his community."
Another local, Lauren Green, complained that asylum seekers were being "prioritised" for housing while locals struggle to get doctors and dentist appointments.
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A former landlord said that many homes are being turned into HMOs in order to accommodate the influx of migrants.
In Swansea, where there are 32.6 asylum seekers per 10,000 people, market traders expressed frustration about newcomers.
A market stall worker said: "I've seen up to 30 men sitting outside Costa, I find it intimidating. They don't contribute by working or paying taxes, they don't seem to be here with families."
Coventry has the fifth highest number of supported asylum seekers in Britain with 60 per 10,000 people.
Louise, who is currently homeless, said that the houses go to asylum seekers rather than to those sleeping rough.
Zain Khan, a shop owner who moved from Pakistan four years ago, praised the the UK for allowing refugees but said the Government needs to ask them to work.
However, not all residents share negative views about asylum seekers in their communities.
Rebecca Howland, from Coventry said she had "not noticed any problems" caused by asylum seekers and described the city as "pleasant enough" to live in.
Xander Green, a 21-year-old politics student, offered a more sympathetic perspective.
"People who talk about migrants often grew up in places where they don't have that first-hand interaction with diversity," he said.
Find Out More...