THE impact of asylum hotels on communities and the economy is being “carefully monitored” by BCP Council.

The local authority has confirmed that the Home Office has transferred individuals seeking asylum in the UK to the conurbation.

Last week two councils lost their legal bid to stop hotels in their area from being used to house asylum seekers.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council asked the High Court to continue an interim injunction preventing migrants being accommodated at the Humber View Hotel in Hull.

Ipswich Borough Council also asked for the extension of an interim injunction to stop further asylum seekers being placed at the Novotel hotel in Ipswich city centre.

Mr Justice Holgate refused to extend the injunctions in a ruling issued on Friday, November 11.

When asked for the situation with hotels being used to house asylum seekers, a BCP Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: "We are aware that a number of individuals seeking asylum having been transferred by the Home Office to the BCP area.

“The council is working with police, health and community partners on providing appropriate support services.

“The council is carefully monitoring the impact of the asylum hotels on our communities and local economy and we are following the outcome of the legal action being taken by other authorities.”

There are reportedly more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels across the UK, which is costing £5.6million a day.

The Home Office said it engages with councils as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation, with hotels used as a short-term solution to the migrant crisis.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who seek asylum and require accommodation has reached record levels, placing unprecedented pressures on the asylum system.

“The Home Office and partners identify sites for accommodation based on whether they are safe and available. While we accept that hotels do not provide a long-term solution, they do offer safe, secure and clean accommodation, and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation during this challenging time.”