The UK government's asylum strategy has been thrown into disarray after a blistering High Court ruling condemned its attempt to evict dozens of asylum seekers onto the streets of Essex as unlawful.
The case centred on the Home Office's controversial plan to clear out 46 individuals from a hotel in Epping. The judge found that the government's actions, led by Immigration Enforcement, were a clear breach of its own policies and procedures, leaving vulnerable people at risk of homelessness.
A Policy in 'Total Chaos'
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper seized upon the ruling, lambasting the Conservative government for its handling of the situation. "This is a damning verdict which exposes the total chaos and incompetence at the heart of the Home Office," she stated.
"The fact that the High Court has found the Home Office acting unlawfully in its treatment of asylum seekers, yet again, shows a department that is completely failing to get a grip."
Local Council Intervention
The legal challenge was successfully brought by Epping Forest District Council, which intervened to prevent the evictions. The council argued that the move would have placed an unlawful burden on local services and left individuals destitute, a argument the court ultimately upheld.
This ruling forces a major setback for the government's broader plan to empty asylum accommodation hotels, a key pledge made by ministers. It highlights the significant legal and logistical hurdles still facing the policy.
The Home Office is now compelled to reassess its approach, ensuring any future actions comply strictly with the law and its own statutory duties to protect vulnerable individuals.
