Liverpool City Council has initiated a proactive online campaign aimed at dispelling widespread misconceptions that erroneously associate asylum seekers with increased violence against women and girls. The council's digital 'myth-buster' resource, prominently shared across social media platforms, explicitly cautions residents against drawing unfounded links between foreign cultures and attacks on women, asserting there is 'no causal link between asylum seeker populations and increased levels of VAWG'.
Addressing Rising Public Concerns
This advisory emerges against a backdrop of escalating national apprehension regarding sexual offences perpetrated by foreign nationals, including individuals accommodated in taxpayer-funded hotels. Official statistics reveal that police made approximately 8,500 arrests of foreign nationals for sexual crimes, encompassing rape, during 2024 and the initial months of 2025.
Public anxiety has been notably intensified by high-profile incidents, such as the case of Ethiopian migrant Hadush Kebatu, who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping merely eight days after his arrival in the UK last year. His subsequent mistaken release from prison, which necessitated a three-day manhunt culminating in his arrest in Finsbury Park, north London, further fueled the discourse.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
The council's comprehensive online guide systematically addresses several prevalent myths. A primary focus is countering the assertion that asylum seekers are responsible for 'rising violence against women and girls'. The council emphasises that 'every asylum claim is assessed carefully by the Home Office' and that most individuals are fleeing severe circumstances like war, torture, or persecution, seeking safety and dignity.
Another section confronts the claim that migrants receive 'better treatment than our homeless'. The council clarifies that housing for asylum seekers fulfills a legal government obligation, stating: 'Homelessness is a separate and equally urgent issue. One crisis should not be used to dismiss the other.'
Additionally, the guide refutes allegations that asylum seekers are 'living in luxury hotels at our expense', explaining that accommodations are typically budget hotels or repurposed buildings with small, often shared rooms lacking kitchens and privacy, and occupants have no choice in their placement.
Evidence-Based Reassurances from Authorities
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council affirmed that protecting women and girls remains a paramount priority, highlighting ongoing collaboration with partners such as Merseyside Police and specialist support services to prevent abuse, support victims, and ensure perpetrator accountability.
The council underscored its commitment to fostering community safety through accurate, evidence-led information, drawing on national data from the Office for National Statistics, local policing insights, and established research. This evidence consistently demonstrates that violence against women and girls is a pervasive issue across all communities and backgrounds.
National data indicates that the majority of such violence is committed by someone known to the victim, such as a partner or acquaintance, rather than by strangers—a pattern reflected locally by Merseyside Police. Research from institutions like the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory has found no evidence of a causal link between asylum seeker presence and increased violent crime.
The myth-busting initiative forms part of a broader strategy to provide clear, factual information and support informed public understanding. It aims to address unverified claims that can generate fear, erode trust, and divert attention from essential efforts to prevent violence and support survivors.
