City appoints asylum row mediator

Racial tension in the Sighthill area has been high

A trouble-shooter has been appointed in an effort to improve the lot of asylum seekers who have been housed in Glasgow.

Dawn Corbett, who is currently Glasgow City Council's head of corporate policy, will be responsible for co-ordinating the support services avaible to them.

The appointment comes as a freeze has been put on sending more asylum seekers to Sighthill, where a Turkish Kurd was murdered and an Iranian subject to a knife attack last week.

The council hopes a package of measures unveiled on Monday will help ease racial tensions between the asylum seekers and existing residents.

New services

Council leader Charles Gordon detailed the steps which he hopes will prevent a repeat of the social unrest seen in recent days.

The measures include:

• The creation of a co-ordinating group to be chaired by a local councillor and to include asylum seekers

• A drop-in centre will be set-up at the Community Education Centre in Sighthill. There will be access to computers and a library

• Security will be improved through the appointment of extra staff, and estate caretaking will be stepped up to improve the environment

• Asylum seekers will each be guaranteed a monthly visit by support officers

The measures will be overseen by Ms Corbett who is being put in place to help liase with refugees and the local community.

Dawn Corbett will have city-wide responsibilities

The 42-year-old said her main aim would be to make "a measured assessment" of the situation across the city.

She said: "The view expressed that asylum seekers are dumped in the city is simply not true.

"We cannot say everything is rosy and I will be looking at what has been going on and seeing if it is enough and can we improve things."

Ms Corbett has worked in local government for 15 years and has held posts in Edinburgh City Council, Stirling Council and Fife Council.

She was quizzed about how difficult she thought the job might be, and said: "There has been racial harassment and a man has died.

'Delicate issue'

"I think one of the difficulties is that there has been such a fevered debate round these issues.

"So many people have views on what the problem is and what the solutions are.

"We need to stand back and make a measured assessment of the situation."

At a media conference on Monday afternoon, Councillor Gordon explained the decision to suspend the flow of more asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers have faced problems in Sighthill

He said: "I made it plain that this was a very delicate issue and I endorse the views of the Home Office that we must not come to a decision based on racist actions."

Mr Gordon said the decision, which will see a freeze until 14 September, was based on a request by asylum seekers' representatives and the fact that Sighthill is nearing full capacity. After that date the suspension will be reviewed.

He defended criticism of the policy to integrate refugees in Glasgow, saying: "Morally we felt it was the right thing to do.

"It is not an option to walk away and we are going to have to sharpen up our act.

"These people are our problem. They are in our city and we have got to help them."

Councillor Gordon defended the council

On the appointment of Ms Corbett, he added: "We have appointed a trouble-shooter and that will try and ensure that the occasional bit of red tape is cut through as quickly as possible and that our services are as responsive as possible."

The announcements, made after a hastily convened meeting with Sighthill asylum seekers, met with a mixed response.

One spokesperson said this was a chance for people to become involved in integration policy.

But Amer Anwar, a leading campaigner, said he was "greatly disappointed" the council had "failed to meet the challenge".