HUNDREDS of stateless immigrants are living rough under bridges in west London, victims of the economic slump, according to a new investigation.
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Mostly from India, the immigrants came to the UK for building work, but jobs in the construction industry are now scarce and many of the ‘Fauji’ (literally ‘foot soldiers’) as they are known, cannot return to their countries of origin as they have often previously discarded their passports to avoid deportation.
“It’s diabolical, disgusting and disgraceful,” Randeep Lall of the Sikh Welfare Assocation, told Sky News.
“An animal wouldn’t live the way some of these people are. Five years ago it wasn’t this bad. Guys were making a good life for themselves and sending money to their families in India.
“The economic downturn has played a massive part in this. These guys depended on people doing extensions and home renovations. Now there is no building work.”
Sky News reporters witnessed men living rough under a bridge over the Grand Union canal and the TV channel’s investigation talks of hundreds of others in a similarly parlous position.
The UK Border Agency is aware of the problem and regularly visits Fauji sites in Hounslow and Southall.
“We are working closely with local authorities, police and community groups across west London on a number of projects to deal with the issue of homeless migrants,” said an agency spokesperson.
“However, each case has to be dealt with individually and some can be complex, with many not having travel documents or not wishing to comply with the documentation process.
“In the cases of Indian nationals we continue to work with the High Commission to speed up the time it takes to return them to their home country.”
