Latest news with #HomeOffice
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Migrant hotel kingpins who pocketed millions paid for by YOU ‘flee UK after their £2billion' contract was axed
The pair had already taken at least £47.4million in dividends from the business between April 2021 and September 2022 KINGPINS VANISH Migrant hotel kingpins who pocketed millions paid for by YOU 'flee UK after their £2billion' contract was axed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO migrant hotels kingpins have disappeared after their £2billion contract was axed. Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, 38, and sushi shop boss Bassam Gilini, 38, made tens of millions from the Home Office through their firm Stay Belvedere Hotels Limited (SBHL). Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, pictured, and Bassam Gilini, made tens of millions from the Home Office Credit: bae 2 Gilini raked in the cash through Stay Belvedere Hotels Limited Credit: Facebook It was announced in March that the firm — which operates 51 sites — was being removed as a government contractor when its deal ends in September next year. The pair had already taken at least £47.4million in dividends from the business between April 2021 and September 2022 — in the only public accounts currently available. It is believed they may have now left the UK. Neighbours at Mr Gilini's £2million home in Chigwell, Essex, said they had not seen him around for 'some time'. Meanwhile a relative of Mr Adam in Wanstead, East London, said he was 'not in the country'. But a source close to the company last night insisted the directors had not moved from the UK and continue to work from the country. The Home Office has refused The Sun's Freedom of Information Act request to explain why the deal was scrapped. Border security and asylum minister Angela Eagle had told a select committee earlier this month that there had been 'non-performance-related issues' with SBHL. The TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'The Home Office's refusal to be transparent, even after a parliamentary committee raised serious concerns is unacceptable.' Neither director has replied to requests for comment.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Migrant hotel kingpins who pocketed millions paid for by YOU ‘flee UK after their £2billion' contract was axed
TWO migrant hotels kingpins have disappeared after their £2billion contract was axed. Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, 38, and sushi shop boss Bassam Gilini, 38, made tens of millions from the Home Office through their firm Stay Belvedere Hotels Limited (SBHL). It was announced in March that the firm — which operates 51 sites — was being removed as a government contractor when its deal ends in September next year. The pair had already taken at least £47.4million in dividends from the business between April 2021 and September 2022 — in the only public accounts currently available. It is believed they may have now left the UK. Neighbours at Mr Gilini's £2million home in Chigwell, Essex, said they had not seen him around for 'some time'. Meanwhile a relative of Mr Adam in Wanstead, East London, said he was 'not in the country'. But a source close to the company last night insisted the directors had not moved from the UK and continue to work from the country. The Home Office has refused The Sun's Freedom of Information Act request to explain why the deal was scrapped. Border security and asylum minister Angela Eagle had told a select committee earlier this month that there had been 'non-performance-related issues' with SBHL. The TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'The Home Office's refusal to be transparent, even after a parliamentary committee raised serious concerns is unacceptable.' Neither director has replied to requests for comment.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Migrant hotel kingpins who pocketed millions paid for by YOU ‘flee UK after their £2billion' contract was axed
TWO migrant hotels kingpins have disappeared after their £2billion contract was axed. Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, 38, and sushi shop boss Bassam Gilini, 38, made tens of millions from the Home Office through their firm Advertisement 2 Kebab shop owner Safwan Adam, pictured, and Bassam Gilini, made tens of millions from the Home Office Credit: bae 2 Gilini raked in the cash through Stay Belvedere Hotels Limited Credit: Facebook It was announced in March that the firm — which operates 51 sites — was being next year. The pair had already taken at least £47.4million in dividends from the business between April 2021 and September 2022 — in the only public accounts currently available. It is believed they may have now left the UK. Neighbours at Mr Gilini's £2million home in Chigwell, Essex, said they had not seen him around for 'some time'. Advertisement Meanwhile a relative of Mr Adam in Wanstead, East London, said he was 'not in the country'. But a source close to the company last night insisted the directors had not moved from the UK and continue to work from the country. The Home Office has refused The Sun's Freedom of Information Act request to explain why the deal was scrapped. Border security and asylum minister Advertisement Most read in The Sun The TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'The Home Office's refusal to be transparent, even after a parliamentary committee raised serious concerns is unacceptable.' Neither director has replied to requests for comment. How illegal migrants are paying £20,000 to fly into the UK using fake papers before disappearing in new border threat
ITV News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Safeguarding Minister to meet Stormont Executive after 'appalling' grooming gangs review findings
Exclusive A child sexual exploitation scandal in Northern Ireland, first exposed by UTV more than a decade ago, helped inform damning research about the scale of the crime and failures by the authorities in England and Wales. The audit by Baroness Louise Casey prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to launch a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Although it doesn't include Northern Ireland and Scotland, the inquiry looks set to have major ramifications in Northern Ireland. Deborah Hanna who lost her daughter Caitlin after being exploited has said a review in Northern Ireland needs to be carried out. In another development, the government's Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips has said she will be meeting with the Executive on Monday to discuss ways to ''work together to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice''. The Home Office says the findings of the inquiry will be shared with the devolved administrations ''including the Northern Ireland Executive, to support a joined up and robust approach across the UK''. The sexual exploitation scandal in Northern Ireland related to young girls going missing from care multiple times. Operation Owl looked at 20 cases. Initially, they were not connected when they should have been. An inquiry was also ordered into the scale of the problem in 2014. There was no organised exploitation like that found in Rotherham and Rochdale but it found that individuals with links to paramilitary groups may have used their influence to abuse children. The inquiry concluded that child sexual exploitation was a ''significant'' and growing threat in NI. Nexus NI provides support to anyone impacted by sexual abuse from the age of eight. The organisation said it's time for a fresh look into the extent of the problem in Northern Ireland given the passage of time and due an increased threat from grooming gangs. Chief executive, Joanne Barnes said: "Baroness Casey's audit has exposed uncomfortable truths about child sexual exploitation and abuse that demand immediate action. "Failure to act regardless of the reason puts our children and young people at greater risk. "Regardless of jurisdiction, our children, young people and all survivors deserve nothing less than complete transparency and accountability. "It has been 10 years since the last report on tackling Child Sexual Exploitation was published here. "Therefore, the time for a fresh and independent examination of experiences, systems and supports is now. "Every day we spend asking 'should we look at this afresh' is another day our survivors will rightly demand, 'why didn't you?'" That is echoed by Deborah Hanna – her daughter Caitlin was just 21 when she died from a drug overdose three years ago. Her abuser – part of a grooming gang – who forced young vulnerable women into the sex trade on the streets of Belfast in exchange for drugs. '"My daughter was used by her abusers so they could gain money and drugs." said Deborah. "If I knew about the grooming, I think things would of been a lot different." "A review needs to be carried out as grooming gangs are going to become a bigger issue." The PSNI said it will identify learning to implement on the back of Baroness Casey's and from any planned operations in England and Wales. In a joint statement the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Justice Minister Naomi Long said they are "appalled" at the findings of the Casey Audit. They said they are "determined" to do all they can to protect children and young people in Northern Ireland from sexual exploitation. The ministers added, "The Home Office has not yet consulted the Departments of Health orJustice on this matter. "However, a commitment has been made that the Safeguarding Minister will follow up on the announcement of the inquiry with the devolved administrations. "We will, therefore, consider the issues raised during that engagement and respond accordingly."
Russia Today
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
UK starting to turn away Ukrainians
The UK has begun turning down asylum claims from Ukrainians, asserting that applicants can safely relocate to other parts of Ukraine, the Guardian has reported. A London-based legal firm told the newspaper on Friday that it receives weekly inquiries from Ukrainians whose refusal letters commonly state that they do not meet the threshold for persecution under the Refugee Convention, as applicants are deemed able to relocate to safer parts of Ukraine. The letters also cite the availability of public services in Ukraine and suggest that seeking help from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and local organizations. The firm noted that the growing number of refusals was linked to updates made in January to the UK Home Office's guidance, which now identifies regions such as Kiev and western Ukraine as 'generally safe.' Refugee status in the UK grants recipients five years of residency with access to work, benefits, healthcare, housing support, and family reunification. The UK also offers temporary visas through the Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family schemes, allowing stays of up to 18 months. As of March 2025, over 270,000 visas had been issued. A Home Office spokesperson told the Guardian that the UK has offered or extended sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. The ministry emphasized that asylum claims are assessed individually and noted that the Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open. Several million Ukrainians have fled their country over the past three years. According to Eurostat data, around 4.3 million had been granted temporary protection in the EU as of March 2025. Russia, meanwhile, reported that 5.5 million people had arrived from Ukraine by the end of 2023. The outflow has been driven not only by the ongoing conflict but also by increasingly aggressive mobilization tactics used by the Ukrainian military. These efforts have led to violent confrontations between draft officers and those resisting conscription, with male Ukrainians risking criminal prosecution for fleeing the country. London has committed billions in military assistance to Ukraine since 2022. Moscow has repeatedly accused the UK and its Western allies of using Ukraine as a 'battering ram' against Russia and of pursuing the conflict 'until the last Ukrainian.'
