Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of asylum seekers on trends in levels of recorded crime in Sussex.

The Government takes any allegation of criminality involving asylum seekers extremely seriously. Allegations of criminal activity are matters for the police, who are responsible for recording, investigating, and progressing criminal reports, and no one in the UK, including asylum seekers, is above the law.

The Home Office is working closely with policing partners, local authorities, and accommodation providers to strengthen how risk linked to criminality and serious harm are identified, understood and managed, both within the asylum accommodation estate and in local communities. We are reviewing information available to improve our understanding of these issues and to support effective operational responses.

Through enhanced public protection arrangements, intelligence sharing and close operational collaboration, the Home Office is taking proactive action to identity and manage individuals who may pose a risk, supporting both community safety and confidence in the asylum system. Where incidents occur, established processes ensure appropriate action is taken to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and additional support is deployed where necessary.