Five arrests at an asylum centre in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in less than a month have left local residents too scared to leave their homes, prompting police to step up patrols in the area.
The arrests, including for alleged rape and child sex assaults, occurred at the taxpayer-funded Urban House. Police confirmed two men, aged 24 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of rape, while two women, 23 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting an alleged attack on August 5. All four have been released on bail.
Charges and court appearance
According to reports from The Sun, 32-year-old Gabriel Thong was charged with sexual offences against a child under 13 following an alleged attack on August 20. He is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that 32 incidents were reported to police from Urban House in the first eight months of this year. Six relate to sex attacks and three to violence, with detainees from Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan, and Botswana.
Residents describe fear
The situation has left locals living in fear. Amy Campbell, a 42-year-old hairdresser, described it as "scary" and said she will no longer go to the shops without her Staffordshire bull terrier.
Dean Wilson, a 73-year-old former market trader, added: "We don’t feel safe now. My great-grandsons were chased by a man who said he was going to knife them. They were terrified."
Sophie Hargreaves, a 35-year-old mum-of-two, claimed: "One fella would shout he was going to rape the woman next door, as well as animals and kids. I’ve called police a few times. There seems to be no concern."
Police response
Other residents claim to have seen people "openly doing drug deals," while some women said men shout "sexist remarks" at them as they walk down the street. Police have now begun "reassurance patrols" in the area.
The Home Office said: "We will not tolerate criminal behaviour. Anyone convicted of a serious sexual offence will have their asylum claim rejected and we will seek to remove them at the first opportunity. Strengthened safety measures are in place at the site and an increased police presence has been deployed."
