Crick Hotel Housing Migrants Sparks Local Fury

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Residents of Crick, a Northamptonshire village, have voiced anger after a nearby hotel began housing asylum seekers, with some describing parts of the area as a “no-go zone”.

The 111-room Ibis Rugby East hotel, located about a mile from the village across the M1, is being used to accommodate asylum seekers under a Home Office agreement. Locals claim groups of men have been gathering late at night in public spaces, playing football on children’s fields, and causing noise disruption.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I don’t want them here; they’ve come here illegally but are treated as guests. They’re rowdy, and people living nearby can’t sleep.” Another, a father of two teenage daughters, added: “I’m worried about them even walking around the corner from a friend’s house. They’re making our lives a misery.”

Tensions escalated following the alleged sexual assault of a woman in nearby Rugby, Warwickshire, on 5 August. An asylum seeker, Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court next month.

Crick Parish Council said it had raised concerns with Serco, the private company managing the site for the Home Office. “Serco have told us that they cannot impose a curfew, and the residents are not prevented from leaving the hotel,” a council statement said. “The decision to house immigrants at the Ibis was a central government decision and was not supported by West Northamptonshire Council or Crick Parish Council, both of whom strongly object.”

Northamptonshire Police confirmed they had increased patrols in the village “to offer reassurance” following the Rugby incident. A force spokesperson said: “We know this incident has caused concern to people living in the area and our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been completing extra patrols in Crick in recent days.”

Daventry MP Stuart Andrew said the safety of residents was his highest priority. “I have been consistently raising concerns with the Home Office about the situation in Crick and will continue working closely with local authorities to help ensure our communities are safe for all,” he said.

Serco stated that asylum seekers at the hotel are “free to come and go” and that the facility is “not a detention centre”. The company said: “All asylum seekers are given an induction into what is expected of anyone living in the UK. Any anti-social behaviour or illegal activities should be reported to the police.”

Accor, the parent company of the Ibis brand, said the hotel is independently owned and operated. Its alternative use, they said, was the result of an agreement between the property’s owner and the Home Office.

The policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels has become a flashpoint in communities across the UK. Critics say it places strain on small towns and villages, while supporters argue it is a necessary measure while asylum claims are processed.

On Friday night, hundreds of residents protested outside the Ibis in Crick. Similar unrest took place in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where demonstrations followed the charging of two Afghan asylum seekers with the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Both protests were heavily policed.