Asylum Seeker Wristbands To Be Replaced With ID

The Welsh Refugee Council warned the practice had echoes of the Star of David badge that the Nazi regime made Jewish people wear.

A Home Office contractor is to withdraw the use of wristbands to identify asylum seekers and replace them with photo ID.

Clearsprings Ready Homes, which is contracted to supply accommodation for refugees at Lynx House in Cardiff, had been criticised for making them wear the red wristbands at all times to claim breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Eric Ngalle, a 36-year-old refugee who stayed at Lynx House, reportedly said motorists on nearby roads would sometimes spot the wristbands and tell their wearers to "go back to your country".
Housing bosses said the bands were discreet and do not single out residents - but human rights groups condemned the practice and Labour MP for Cardiff Central Jo Stevens says the wristbands will be scrapped.
She told Sky: "Every week I have asylum seekers coming to my surgery for advice. I knew there were issues in the accommodation centre but I wasn't aware about the wristband issue until the weekend.

Video: Refugees Don't Like Wristbands

"Once I found out about the wristbands I got straight-on to Lynx House to express my concerns and hopefully they're going to put that right today by stopping the use of wristbands.
"No-one is saying that they should not have identification to get food they are entitled to, but it is not necessary to have people where something which means that they cannot take off."
The Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) said the wristbands echoed the yellow star that Jewish people were forced to wear in Nazi Germany.
"We raised the matter many times with the Welsh Government," WRC policy officer Hannah Wharf said.

Spoken to Clearsprings Ops Director with Home Office contract for Lynx House. #Wristband requirement to cease @guardian @CdfTrinity @dpg_law

— Jo Stevens MP (@JoStevensLabour) January 24, 2016

"It harks back to the Nazi regime with people being forced to wear a Star of David and stand out."
The move echoes a controversy last week over asylum seekers in Middlesbrough being targeted after a housing firm painted their doors red.
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has said the Home Office faced "serious questions" about the situation in Cardiff.
Clearsprings Ready Homes said its wristband policy came after a quick increase in the number of asylum seekers at its accommodation sites.

Video: Asylum Seekers' Homes Targeted

"Volumes of people in initial accommodation sites, including Cardiff (have) increased quickly," the firm told The Guardian.
"Clearsprings has taken steps, agreed with the Home Office to increase capacity in line with this demand in the form of additional self-catering accommodation.
"Those clients in the self-catering units receive a weekly allowance in the form of supermarket vouchers and those in full-board accommodation are issued with a coloured wristband that bears no other logo or text identifying its use or origin.
"Full-board clients are required to show their wristbands in order to receive meals in the restaurant."

Video: Director Defends Painting Doors Red

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Office expects the highest standards from its contractors at all times, including that they in no way ever endanger the safety of the asylum seekers in their care.
"If there is any evidence to suggest this is not the case, it will be treated with the utmost seriousness and dealt with accordingly."