Police welcome closure of asylum hotel

Police have welcomed news that a hotel in Cheshire will no longer be used to house asylum seekers.

The Crewe Arms, opposite the town's railway station, was named among 11 asylum hotels in the UK which were closing, with the total remaining across the country set to fall to 185.

The Home Office previously confirmed the contract was ending in April and a message on the hotel's website said it would be reopening to the public from Monday.

Reacting to the news, Cheshire Police assistant chief constable Alison Ross said the site had been the subject of an "unacceptable number of incidents" over the last year.

"Firstly, I want to make clear that this isn't a political stance by the constabulary, nor is it about targeting asylum seekers," she added.

"We have a duty to protect vulnerable people accommodated in these premises, as well as protecting residents in the wider local community.

"Over the last 12 months or so we have dealt with an unacceptable number of incidents of crime and disorder at the hotel and its immediate vicinity."

Ross said the force had always wanted the asylum hotel to be closed "as soon as possible" and officers had been working with the Home Office following concerns raised by the community.

Cheshire Police said there were about 115 asylum seekers based at the site until October 2025 before numbers started to reduce, with the final resident leaving within the last week.

The Home Office previously said it was working to close every asylum hotel and more suitable sites were being brought forward "to ease pressure on communities" while cutting costs.

The BBC has contacted the Crewe Arms Hotel for further comment.

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