Mark White has cautioned about an "emerging problem" as the Government's plan to close asylum hotels could result in migrants flooding residential neighbourhoods across Britain.

The UK has witnessed unprecedented numbers of Channel crossings this year, with 25,436 migrants arriving by small boat - the earliest this milestone has been reached since records began in 2018.

Despite Labour's promises to tackle the crisis, the Government aims to eliminate hotel accommodation for asylum seekers by 2029.

Currently, 32,345 migrants remain in hotels, down from over 50,000 in 2023.

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Discussing this, Mark explained: "Well, this is the next big emerging issue as far as the country is concerned, because you've got an entirely unacceptable situation where hundreds of hotels are in use.

"And yes, it's right that they have come down and people see these community assets being taken out of commission for sometimes years at a time.

"That's a big problem. But we're moving now from a phase of mainly men being housed in these hotels, in a location within a town that people know about, and they're being managed within that hotel environment, to being dispersed right out into the community, to a street near you.

"And it can be houses of multiple occupations. So it's not necessarily one asylum seeker, but perhaps a dozen asylum seekers in a property on your street.

"So there will be, without a doubt, and there is already we're seeing it manifesting in communities across the country, tensions now that are resulting from the fact that migrants are being moved out of hotels and right into the heart of the sort of the communities, the streets that people live on.

"So yes, it's to be welcomed that hotels are going back to public use again. But the downside is that these asylum seekers, mainly men, are going into communities, right into the heart, with all the potential problems that manifest from that."

The Home Office has introduced measures compelling asylum seekers to leave hotels for alternative accommodation, threatening to withdraw support from those who refuse without valid reasons.

Demonstrations against asylum accommodation have erupted across multiple UK locations, with residents expressing concerns about safety and community impact.

Protests have occurred in Epping, Norwich, Diss, Manchester, Portsmouth, Leeds and Southampton, each met by counter-demonstrations from anti-racism groups requiring substantial police presence.

The Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf has installed metal gates and increased security after protesters gathered outside the facility earmarked for asylum seekers.

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Small boat crossing have reached record highs

Essex Police reported 23 arrests and 14 charges related to demonstrations at Epping's Bell Hotel, where protests began following allegations against an asylum seeker.

Local councils are responding to community pressure, with Epping Forest District Council unanimously voting to demand permanent closure of their asylum hotel.

The Park Hotel in Diss has declared it would rather shut down than accept single male asylum seekers, currently housing only families.

Waterlooville witnessed over 1,000 residents gathering peacefully on Wednesday evening to oppose plans for 35 asylum seekers to occupy newly-built flats in the town centre.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the local MP, praised demonstrators, stating: "Very proud of the people of Waterlooville tonight. To the thousands of local people who peacefully protested, you speak for millions. You're not far-right. You just love our country and are willing to stand up for it."