Food wristbands scrapped for Cardiff asylum seekers

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. A firm providing meals for asylum seekers in Cardiff demands they wear wristbands as a condition for receiving food. “Armenpress” reports the aforementioned, referring to BBC News.

The coloured bands were given to asylum seekers staying at Lynx House.

But some said it was dehumanising and made people targets for abuse.

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said: "I find it very hard to understand how a system like this could ever be deemed appropriate and frankly I'm shocked and appalled."

Clearsprings Ready Homes said asylum seekers who spent their initial few weeks in its full-board accommodation in Cardiff had been provided with bands since May 2015.

This was to "ensure they receive the services they are entitled to and to make sure those more vulnerable asylum seekers have access to their specific requirements".

"As in numerous such establishments where large numbers of people are being provided with services, wristbands are considered to be one of the most reliable and effective ways of guaranteeing delivery," a spokesman said.

"We are always reviewing the way we supply our services and have decided to cease the use of wristbands as of 25 January and will look for an alternative way of managing the fair provision of support."