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Action urged on migrant tensions Action urged on migrant tensions
(about 6 hours later)
Councils should act more quickly to stop tensions escalating between migrant workers and local residents, an Audit Commission report has said.Councils should act more quickly to stop tensions escalating between migrant workers and local residents, an Audit Commission report has said.
Potential flashpoints include noise from migrants' accommodation, parking, street drinking and driving standards.Potential flashpoints include noise from migrants' accommodation, parking, street drinking and driving standards.
The spending watchdog said these "small" issues caused more concern than pressure on services in many areas.The spending watchdog said these "small" issues caused more concern than pressure on services in many areas.
The UK has seen record levels migration in recent years, with 600,000 workers coming from eastern Europe since 2004.The UK has seen record levels migration in recent years, with 600,000 workers coming from eastern Europe since 2004.
Most migrants are young, fit and childless so their use of local schools and hospitals is relatively light, the Audit Commission said in its report on the impact of migration on councils, Crossing Borders.Most migrants are young, fit and childless so their use of local schools and hospitals is relatively light, the Audit Commission said in its report on the impact of migration on councils, Crossing Borders.
Rural areasRural areas
There was also little evidence of a "systematic" threat to community cohesion, the spending watchdog's report said, but some councils had coped better than others with the unexpected influx. There was also little evidence of a "systematic" threat to community cohesion, the report said, but some councils had coped better than others with the unexpected influx.
Areas with little previous experience of mass immigration were finding it hardest to adapt.Areas with little previous experience of mass immigration were finding it hardest to adapt.
Report author Jill Green said: "There are some councils where clearly the speed and scale of change has been greater than elsewhere. Report author Jill Green said: "There are a few councils where you may have some pressure on services such as schools and health services.
"There are a few councils where you may have some pressure on services such as schools and health services. A lot of councils are more worried about making sure that this [migration] does not have impacts on neighbourhoods and cohesion Report author Jill Green
"But it is not necessarily the pressure of numbers. If you are in a rural area only one or two kids extra in a class is a pressure.""But it is not necessarily the pressure of numbers. If you are in a rural area only one or two kids extra in a class is a pressure."
But she added: "A lot of councils are more worried about making sure that this [migration] does not have impacts on neighbourhoods and cohesion."But she added: "A lot of councils are more worried about making sure that this [migration] does not have impacts on neighbourhoods and cohesion."
Tension Doors slamming
Potential sources of resentment among residents included noise and disruption when large numbers of migrant workers leave for work early in the morning, the report said. Potential sources of resentment among residents included noise and disruption, such as car doors slamming, when large numbers of migrant workers leave for work early in the morning, the report said.
It also highlighted noise from overcrowded accommodation, street drinking, failure to understand local refuse and recycling systems and arguments over parking spaces. It also highlighted noise from overcrowded accommodation, street drinking, failure to understand local refuse and recycling services and arguments over parking spaces.
Even migrant workers monopolising the internet at local libraries can breed tension, the report said.Even migrant workers monopolising the internet at local libraries can breed tension, the report said.
Police had also highlighted concerns about "an increase in incidents linked to vehicles and, with some eastern Europeans, to alcohol".Police had also highlighted concerns about "an increase in incidents linked to vehicles and, with some eastern Europeans, to alcohol".
Differing assumptions can include expecting the police to require bribes Audit Commission report
Cars and vans driven by migrant workers were sometimes unroadworthy and there were concerns about poor driving standards, speeding and drinking and driving, the report said.Cars and vans driven by migrant workers were sometimes unroadworthy and there were concerns about poor driving standards, speeding and drinking and driving, the report said.
Racist views
Some migrant workers were also vulnerable to being victims of crime - particularly if they lived in cramped or overcrowded accommodation.
There was also evidence of racist views, among both the local population and the migrant workers themselves, with police reporting "isolated examples" of hate crimes.There was also evidence of racist views, among both the local population and the migrant workers themselves, with police reporting "isolated examples" of hate crimes.
Homeless people
The report also found "some migrant workers may not trust the police in their home countries and so treat the police with suspicion.The report also found "some migrant workers may not trust the police in their home countries and so treat the police with suspicion.
"Differing assumptions can include expecting the police to require bribes," it added."Differing assumptions can include expecting the police to require bribes," it added.
English classes
There was also a concern about rising numbers of homeless people from eastern European states, particularly in London, the report said.There was also a concern about rising numbers of homeless people from eastern European states, particularly in London, the report said.
"Accession state nationals now comprise up to half the recognised street drinkers in Hammersmith and Fulham and one in five of the rough sleepers in Westminster," it said. The Audit Commission urged councils to learn from areas where action had been taken at an early stage to prevent tensions from escalating. Money spent on helping people to learn English themselves, so they can communicate themselves...does seem to be a more sensible way to do it Michael O'HigginsAudit Commission chairman
The Audit Commission called on councils to take swift action where there was evidence landlords were breaking the law. It quotes the example of Crewe, where it says the local council, police and charities dealt swiftly with residents' grievances and scotched rumours about migrants arriving in the area.
It also urged councils to learn from areas where action had been taken at an early stage to prevent tensions from escalating.
It quotes the example of Crewe, where it says the local council, police and charities dealt swiftly with residents' grievances and scotch rumours about migrants arriving in the area.
But the most useful thing local authorities could do to improve community cohesion was to provide more English classes for migrants, the report said.But the most useful thing local authorities could do to improve community cohesion was to provide more English classes for migrants, the report said.
Audit Commission chairman Michael O'Higgins told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he thought there should be more emphasis on learning English rather than simply opting for a translator.
"In the longer term money spent on helping people to learn English themselves, so they can communicate themselves rather than communicate through others, does seem to be a more sensible way to do it," he said.