Southampton City Council has moved swiftly to reinforce security at the Highfield House Asylum Hotel in Portswood after a flare was thrown through a ground floor window in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident, described by authorities as an arson attack, took place just before a coach carrying 50 asylum seekers arrived at the hotel, which is currently being used to house migrants.
In response, the red-green alliance of Southampton council has ramped up safety measures, including improved CCTV coverage, restricted public access, and increased security patrols. The council says it is working closely with the organisation managing the hotel and coordinating with Hampshire Police to protect residents and staff.
A council spokesperson told The Daily Echo: “Following the arson attack, we have worked closely with the organisation that manages the hotel to ensure adequate safety measures have been taken, including enhanced security patrols, restricted public access, improved CCTV monitoring, and close coordination with the police.”
Despite these steps, residents of neighbouring Avondale Court say their concerns remain unaddressed. The sheltered housing complex, which is owned by Sovereign Housing Association, sits directly adjacent to the asylum hotel. Residents claim that anti-social behaviour has increased since the hotel began housing asylum seekers, and that the new fencing and CCTV installed by the council has done little to improve their safety or quality of life.
“I’ve reported break-ins to the police five times and they’ve only been once. I never go out after dark, I sit with other residents because I feel scared,” said one woman, who asked not to be named. “They’re outside every night smoking cannabis and I’m sick of the smell of it.”
Other Avondale Court residents described repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour: urinating against trees and the building, late-night noise from delivery bikes, and discarded takeaway packaging thrown into the trees. “They kicked our door in. People have no idea what’s going on and we’re frightened to push it too far in case they evict us,” said another resident. One resident has installed a digital video camera to the front of her mobility scooter and an alarm on the handle-bars.
Hampshire Police have distributed window alarms to residents following complaints, but many say this is not enough. “It’s been going on for years,” said a long-term resident. “As soon as it gets dark they go into our car park, and we don’t feel safe going out. They’re out there drinking and smoking all night. They’ve broken into our sheds. I don’t like going out at all now to be honest, my son tells me I need to go out but I don’t like to at all.”
Southampton Council, as the licensing and social care authority, says it is monitoring the situation closely and maintaining regular contact with both the police and the organisations involved.
As police continue to investigate the flare incident, the council insists it is doing all it can to safeguard residents both inside the hotel and in the wider community. For Avondale Court’s residents, however, mistrust and anxiety remain the norm—and many still live in fear walking in and out of their homes.
