Sandown’s Premier Inn has rejected claims that asylum seekers are being housed there, as false rumours continue to circulate across social media.
Videos shared online in recent days have alleged that the top 2 floors of the Sandown hotel are being used to accommodate asylum seekers.
One of the videos states: “Premier Inn, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Housing migrants in two top floors. Confirmed by councillors.”
Island Echo has not been able to back up the claims that the occupation has been confirmed by local councillors. However, confirmation has been given by the manager of the seafront hotel that the allegation is untrue and that no asylum seekers are being housed at the premises.
The rumours have been described as “complete lies” and are said to be having an impact on staff working at the hotel.
Premier Inn has issued a formal and public response on X, stating:
“We do not have any hotels that house asylum seekers.
“We have never accepted this nature of business and nor do we have any plans to do so and for many reasons our hotels are unsuitable for these kinds of long-term stays.”
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The Sandown allegation is not the only claim of its kind to have circulated on Isle of Wight social media in recent weeks.
False rumours have also suggested that asylum seekers have been staying at Calverts Hotel in Newport, something the hotel’s owners categorically deny. Isle of Wight Hotels Ltd says it is not accommodating any migrants in any of its hotels, and never has done.
Information has also circulated that coachloads of asylum seekers recently travelled to the Island overnight on a Wightlink ferry, remaining onboard their coaches during the crossing before being taken to the Hillway area of Bembridge. Again, Island Echo has seen no evidence to substantiate those allegations either.
The Isle of Wight Council has previously confirmed that there is currently no asylum dispersal accommodation on the Island and that it is not aware of any Home Office plans to establish such accommodation.
Council Leader Councillor Jonathan Bacon addressed misinformation surrounding asylum seekers earlier this month after rumours intensified following an incident involving Bembridge and Yarmouth RNLI crews in the English Channel.
Despite claims subsequently appearing on social media, those rescued during that incident were not brought to the Isle of Wight.
The latest rumours underline the consequences of unverified information being shared online as fact, particularly when named businesses and their staff become the subject of threats and abuse.
Always wanted to move here, but hard to find a job and a home for a family of 4, but the things I’m seeing on here lately is awful, been visiting the island since I was a child, it has changed so much sadly
I read on the Daily Mail yesterday that Fort Blockhouse
The historic naval port in Gosport is set to become the
migrant capital of Britain.
This alone should be sufficient for you to question the veracity of the claims!
Fort Blockhouse (formerly HMS Dolphin) is a secure site currently unused by MOD and is up for sale.
The proposal is actually that it’s used as a processing centre.
It’s a good idea.
It has a waterfront where small boat arrivals can be landed.
It’s a secure site with accommodation.
For those found not to have a valid asylum claim, it’s only a few hundred yards from the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre.
If there’s an attempt to flee there’s only one road passing the site and… well, have you ever tried getting out of Gosport in a hurry!?
If small-minded anti-migrant thugs protest and block the limited road access, people and supplies can be brought in by sea or even helicopter.
The government’s success in curtailing crossings to Kent means smuggling gangs are desperate for new routes. If crossings to Hampshire are becoming more frequent it makes sense to have a processing centre in Hampshire.
So, why publish your report that has no truth, just supposition? Surely putting ideas in stupid people’s heads, even possibly giving cause to violent behavior. Find some actual, proven ” news” then report.
There’s a lack of trust in politicians nationwide, not just on the Island. Where there’s a perception you aren’t being told the truth these sorts of rumours will flourish. Maybe if the government was more open there wouldn’t be such panic
well they must be able to trace the IP Addy of the “fake news spreaders”and find something to charge them with ,sadly being stupid and a daily mail reader is not a crime ,or just being an ignorant waste of oxygen..and stop the dimwitted souls on The Island believing it Yee gods there are some thick sh.ts on The Island.
Morons. The Isle of Wight has no processing centre anyway so of course they are taken to the mainland if picked up off the coast. Makes me wish that these idiots got exactly what they’re so scared of. Perhaps Ryde theatre would make a nice mosque?
They’re coming to stay in your house.
You won’t mind will you?
Easy fix, stop reading and listening to “social media” platforms which have a history of false news.
Faceache and Twatter are cesspits of disinformation.
Why anyone would use them of their own free will unless it was to confirm their own bias is a mystery.
Faceache and Twatter are horrible cesspits of disinformation.
Why anyone would use them unless it was to confirm their own bias is a mystery.
They’re just echo chambers of extreme prejudice.