Letters: It's anti-migrant 'protesters' that make me feel unsafe – not asylum seekers

A Big Issue reader from Epping outlines how the violent protests at asylum seeker hotels have left her and her neighbours fearing for their safety.

Asylum seekers are not the problem

Over the past few weeks, I have watched my town be taken over by thuggery and violence, incited online by the far-right against asylum hotels. These ‘protesters’ have made our high street a no-go area for locals over multiple nights, only to claim their intention is to “make Epping safe again”. I felt perfectly safe before – even walking home alone from the tube just two evenings before the first riot. It’s them who’ve made us feel unsafe.

A woman has required protection from the police after missiles were thrown and individuals shouted verbal abuse at her. Two female police officers were sexually harassed while trying to do their job. Tell me again how this is about protecting women and girls? At the centre of all this is a young girl, a victim, turned into an excuse for thuggery. She needs time to heal and feel safe again. Crowds of masked men attacking police officers and causing serious damage is not support.

Over one in four women and girls will experience sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetimes. These protests only derail any meaningful conversations on the issue – conversations which could actually improve women and girls’ safety. 

When can we have our town back from these violent agitators?

Alice Katherine Petty, Epping 

Go the Lionesses

I want to celebrate our wonderful England team after their triumph in the Euros final. The whole team, players and staff made a truly wonderful England win last week. 

Racism is abhorrent and there is no place for it anywhere. I was brought up treat everyone with respect. We have to tackle racism, but for me I am just so proud of each and every girl. 

Hold your heads high and celebrate your fantastic achievement.

Sylvia Dobie, Facebook

Capitalism in care

Baroness Young is right to call out the moral failure of allowing private companies to profit from the care of vulnerable children. The idea that children living away from their families can generate 20% profit margins, including for offshore investors, should trouble us all.

It’s encouraging to see it being raised in the House of Lords in connection with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. But while England debates, Wales is already taking decisive steps. Despite having one of the highest rates of children in care globally, Wales is leading the way in removing profit from care.

In January, Senedd members agreed amendments to a bill that will eliminate private profit from new care provision by 2026, and require existing providers to transition to not-for-profit models by 2030. Where Wales leads, England should follow. Children are not commodities – and their care should never be a business opportunity. 

Dr David Wilkins, Cardiff University

Read more:

• Here’s the truth about asylum seeker hotels – as rioters try to burn them down
• Asylum seekers ‘setting themselves on fire’ due to conditions at Wethersfield immigration centre
• Asylum seekers share their dreams for future: ‘I want my children to have a safe life’

The face of courage

Having read the article about Nikki Lilly, I’d just like to say, what an amazing drawing, and that my heart goes out to her. I cannot imagine being in constant pain. For all of those out there who moan about trivial things in life, please realise we have nothing to complain about compared to so many. 

Lisa Hughes, North Yorkshire

Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne

He once said in a recorded interview that, if he hadn’t become a musician, he’d be a burglar. The lady interviewer asked what he would steal and without pause, Ozzy responded, “Women’s underwear.” Eighties Ozzy was wild.

@thriftstalgia, Instagram 

There is a video of Ozzy meeting Paul McCartney for the first time and telling him that The Beatles inspired him to start making music. McCartney replies: “After the burglary?”

u/BzWalrus, Reddit

I was listening to an audiobook of his memoir a few weeks ago and apparently he tried three times to hit a business near him and failed each time because he either wasn’t capable of getting the stuff out, didn’t know what to take, or in one case got trapped with a television on top of him.

He was a young teenager living in poverty in Aston. For a lot of people at that time growing up after the war, petty crime was just something to do, either for quick money or to avert boredom. His dad refused to pay the bail money to teach him a lesson and he wound up doing a few weeks in jail for it.

It’s funny to reflect back on now because of how terrible he was at it and the fact that nobody was hurt, not even the business for that matter. But unfortunately most people wouldn’t have had that early reality check of being caught.

u/Timidhobgoblin, Reddit 

Rest easy, Ozzy. May the Prince of Darkness carry his wild magic into the stars – forever howling, forever free.

@sowelustudios, Instagram

Read more:

• Ozzy Osbourne: ‘I tried a bit of burglary but I was useless’
• How the late, great Ozzy Osbourne supported Big Issue with blockbuster farewell gig

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