A Sudanese asylum seeker living in taxpayer-funded accommodation has been charged with attempting to kidnap a 10-year-old girl in Stockport, Greater Manchester, prompting government officials to label the case “deeply concerning” and reigniting debate over asylum accommodation security.
Edris Abdelrazig, 30, was arrested on 13 July after allegedly trying to lure the young girl away near a park whilst she was with her father. The incident has sparked fresh scrutiny of the government’s management of asylum hotels and the safety protocols surrounding migrant accommodation across Britain.
The accused had been residing in a three-star hotel in the affluent Manchester suburb of Wilmslow, costing taxpayers £100 per night. Abdelrazig appeared before magistrates on 15 July and was remanded in custody, with his case scheduled to be heard at Manchester Crown Court on 26 August.
A government spokeswoman responded to the incident, stating: “These are deeply concerning cases and we are in touch with local police and communities. Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered.
The case has emerged alongside separate allegations of a cover-up in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where police reportedly advised councillors to avoid disclosing that two suspects charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl were asylum seekers. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, and Mohammad Kabir, 23, both Afghan nationals, were charged in connection with the alleged assault on 22 July.
Sources familiar with the Nuneaton case told the Mail on Sunday that Warwickshire Police urged local officials not to reveal the asylum seeker background of the suspects, fearing it would “inflame community tensions. One source claimed: “They’re hushing it up because they don’t want an Epping situation on their hands.”
George Finch, the Reform UK leader of Warwickshire County Council, condemned what he called a “cover-up” and wrote to the Home Office demanding all asylum seekers be moved from the county. In his letter to the force’s chief constable, Finch warned: “The continued cover-up of the true nature of Ahmad Mulakhil’s immigration status risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Police defended their approach, stating they follow national guidance which “does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status” once someone is charged. The force maintained that sensitive information could affect future court hearings if disclosed prematurely.
The incidents have intensified pressure on the government’s asylum accommodation system, which currently houses thousands of asylum seekers in hotels across Britain. At their peak in autumn 2023, more than 400 hotels were being used for asylum accommodation at a cost of almost £9 million per day.
The government spokeswoman emphasised the administration’s enforcement record, noting: “35,000 people with no right to be here have been removed in the government’s first year, including over 5,000 foreign criminals, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.
She added that asylum hotels had been reduced from over 400 in summer 2023 to fewer than 210 currently, stating: “We want them all closed by the end of this Parliament.”
The Stockport incident has raised particular concern given its nature and the vulnerability of the victim. Greater Manchester Police confirmed they are treating the matter with utmost seriousness, though specific operational details remain limited to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Both the Stockport and Nuneaton cases involve asylum seekers housed in Serco-managed properties. Serco holds a £1.9 billion contract with the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers across the country, with properties typically housing multiple individuals.
The timing of these incidents proves particularly sensitive, coming just over a year after civil unrest in various parts of Britain following concerns about asylum accommodation and community safety. Local authorities face mounting pressure to balance humanitarian obligations with public safety concerns.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, commented on the situation: “I am afraid police and elected officials are acting against the British people.” His party, which controls Warwickshire County Council, has called for immediate action to address asylum accommodation arrangements.
The government has reiterated its commitment to reforming the asylum system whilst maintaining public safety. Recent statistics show the Home Office removed 3,594 foreign criminals from the UK since July 2024, representing a 16 per cent increase compared to the same period twelve months prior.
Immigration Minister Dame Angela Eagle recently told Parliament that the government has deployed an additional 1,000 staff to process asylum claims more quickly and has removed over 16,000 failed asylum seekers from hotels since July.
The cases highlight ongoing challenges in managing asylum accommodation whilst ensuring community safety. With public concern mounting and local authorities demanding action, the government faces intensifying pressure to demonstrate effective control over the asylum system.
As investigations continue in both Stockport and Nuneaton, communities await answers about how such incidents occurred and what measures will be implemented to prevent future occurrences. The outcomes of these cases will likely influence ongoing debates about asylum policy and accommodation security across Britain.
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