Police Scotland refused an FOI request from the Scottish Daily Express for crime figures linked to hotels housing asylum seekers, saying disclosure could raise local tensions and risk protests or violence. The request sought numbers of incidents, police call-outs, arrests and recorded crimes at those sites. Critics, including some politicians, argue the public needs the data for transparency and accountability. The refusal highlights the tension between public safety concerns and demands for government openness.
Police Refuse To Release Crime Figures For Hotels Housing Asylum Seekers, Citing Public Safety
Brickbat: No Right To Know
Police Scotland has declined a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Daily Express seeking crime data tied to several hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. The request asked for numbers of incidents, police call-outs, arrests and recorded crimes associated with those properties.
Police officials said they would not disclose the requested figures because publication could inflame tensions in local communities and potentially prompt protests or violence around the hotels. The force framed its decision as one made to protect public order and the safety of residents and staff.
Criticism And Public Interest
Critics — including some politicians and civil liberties campaigners — argued the public has a legitimate right to know the scale of criminality in locations where people are housed by the state. They accused Police Scotland of withholding information that is relevant to public debate, oversight and community accountability.
Wider Implications
The case underscores a recurring tension between transparency and community safety: whether withholding data to avoid potential unrest is justified, or whether that withholding undermines public trust. Observers say the decision raises questions about how law enforcement balances the need for open information with real concerns about public order.
Source: The original report appeared on Reason.com and was based on the Scottish Daily Express's FOI request.
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