A government contractor reportedly forcing asylum seekers to wear brightly coloured wristbands in exchange for food is set to replace the controversial policy with a photographic identification system, an MP has said.
Refugees housed by Clearsprings Ready Homes – a private firm contracted by the government to care for those seeking asylum – were allegedly told they would not be fed if they did not wear the brightly coloured wristbands at all times. The Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) said the wristbands echoed the yellow star that Jewish people were forced to wear in Nazi Germany.
Speaking on Sky News Jo Stevens, the shadow justice minister and Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said she had contacted the company and expressed her “grave concerns”. She added the company “accepted that there were concerns the wristbands, they’ve taken that onboard and they’ve told me that they will be withdrawing them and replacing them with a photo ID card system, which people don’t have to show when they’re outside of the hostel”.
Eric Ngalle - who lived at a house run by the company until he was granted refugee status in November 2015 - told the Guardian refugees would sometimes receive abuse from passerbys if they were spotted wearing the wristbands as they walked down the street.
He said: "My time in Lynx House was one of the most horrible experiences in my life. I hated wearing the wristbands and sometimes refused to wear them and was turned away from food. "If we refused to wear the wristbands we were told we would be reported to the Home Office. Some staff implemented this policy in a more drastic way than others. I made a complaint about the wristbands to Clearsprings but nothing was done".
The wristbands entitled the asylum seekers to three meals a day provided by the company. People seeking asylum are not allowed to work and are only entitled to a £36.95 weekly payment card from the government.
The Welsh Refugee policy officer Hannah Wharf said: "We raised the matter many times with the Welsh Government…It harks back to the Nazi regime with people being forced to wear a Star of David and stand out.
"It's absolutely appalling; it is treating people like lesser beings. It is treating them like animals lining up to feed."
In a statement issued today Clearsprings Ready Homes said: ‘Asylum seekers who spend their initial few weeks at our full board accommodation in Cardiff have been provided with wristbands since May 2015 to ensure they receive the services they are entitled to and to make sure those more vulnerable asylum seekers have access to their specific requirements. As in numerous such establishments where large numbers of people are being provided with services, wristbands are considered to be one of the most reliable and effective ways of guaranteeing delivery.
"We are always reviewing the way we supply our services and have decided to cease the use of wristbands as of the Monday 25th of January and will look for an alternative way of managing the fair provision of support. Clearsprings Ready Homes have been providing accommodation services to asylum seekers on behalf of the Home office for over 15 years and are always grateful for feedback to help improve the safety and effectiveness of their services".
