Protests against asylum hotels have now reached London’s upscale areas like Canary Wharf and Islington, where locals fear rising crime and falling property values. The Home Office plans to house asylum seekers at hotels like the Britannia International and Thistle Barbican.

Residents say it’s about safety and transparency, while others accuse far-right groups of stoking fear. In Epping, tensions flared after an asylum seeker was charged with assault. Critics argue that the long-term use of hotels fuels division and makes asylum seekers easy targets.

Meanwhile, the Labour government says it’s working to reduce hotel use. But locals say they want faster, more explicit action before frustration boils over.