Voters' fears over girls' and women's safety is driving opposition to new illegal migrant accommodation

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:02 EDT, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 19:54 EDT, 3 September 2026 Voters' fears over the safety of women and girls are driving opposition to new illegal migrant accommodation, according to a poll.It found that over half of those who oppose new asylum sites near their homes now do so out of a fear for the safety of local women, up from 32 per cent to 52 per cent since July last year.The rise in fears comes after a huge row following the publication of an official Home Office leaflet for newly arrived migrants, warning them that rape and sexual harassment are illegal in Britain.More in Common's survey exposing widespread concerns about Britain's broken asylum system found that 69 per cent of Britons think the Government should be providing guidance to migrants on UK law and expected behaviours.But it also found that 61 per cent said the publication of the leaflet is 'proof that asylum seekers pose a threat to the safety of women and girls'.Overall, public safety concerns are now the public's single biggest priority when deciding where to house asylum seekers, with cost to the taxpayer just slightly behind in second place.Andy Burnham's new plans to redistribute asylum seekers to more middle–class parts of the country have split public opinion, with More in Common finding that 39 per cent say the Government should house migrants wherever it is cheapest, even if this means a higher concentration in poorer areas. A woman demonstrates outside an asylum seekers hotel in Canary Wharf in August 2025. Polling has found that over half of those who oppose new asylum sites near their homes now do so out of a fear for the safety of local women A woman holds a 'save our kids' sign outside a hotel where migrants live in August last year. Overall, safety concerns are now the public's single biggest priority when deciding where to house asylum seekers Responding to the findings, Luke Tryl, More in Common's UK Director, said: 'At one point, the conversation about asylum accommodation centred on the eye–watering cost of hotels.'Over the past year, that's changed, and the public's main fear now is safety, and above all, the safety of women and girls.'Concerns about costs, pressure on services and housing availability have been overtaken by fears about safety, crime and cultural compatibility.'It's against this backdrop that the government's new guidance for asylum seekers risks reinforcing the public's fears. Most people support providing the guidance in principle, and believe it's necessary. But for many, that necessity proves that there is a real danger to the safety of women and girls.' - READ MORE: We'd stop the boats in 100 days: Farage reveals Reform's plan to block migrants, slash benefits and cut taxes