Council of Sanctuary

City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network Update

On 6 October 2025, we agreed to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network.  As a local authority we are committed to being welcoming and fair to everyone in the community. This decision means that the Council will work towards the district as a whole becoming a Council of Sanctuary not just Newry City.

To provide clarity and address common questions, we have prepared the following Questions and Answers about this decision and what it means.

Q. Is the Council complying with its statutory equality obligations under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1988?
A. Yes - the proposal that we join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and work towards accreditation as a Council of Sanctuary was equality screened.  The outcome of equality screening was that it was not recommended the proposal be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment on the basis that no specific adverse impacts were identified at the current time.  

Equality screening is a dynamic process which can be reviewed during the proposal’s implementation.

Q. Is this published for public scrutiny?
A. The Council publishes its Policy Screening Report on a quarterly basis and equality screenings undertaken during each quarter are uploaded to the Council’s website.  These can be accessed at https://www.newrymournedown.org/corporate-policy-and-equality 

Consideration of this matter has been held in open session with reports and access to the meetings available to the public.

Q. What steps have been taken to evidence consideration of good relations impacts?
A. The Council of Sanctuary initiative is designated as being a positive action measure as it closely aligns with the Council’s statutory responsibilities under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, particularly in promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations. 

The primary purpose is to build a culture of hospitality and welcome by creating opportunities to build positive relationships between local people and those seeking sanctuary.  The core values are inclusivity, openness, participation, inspiration, solidarity and integrity, values that align with the Council’s current Social Inclusion and Good Relations programme of activity.  Supporting people seeking sanctuary does not mean favouring one group over another. It is about building efficient, inclusive systems that work for all residents.  

Q. What is the financial commitment to joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network?
A. Membership of the Network involves an annual fee of £250 with no additional cost to the Council.

The Council does not receive money to accept refugees/asylum seekers, nor does it directly fund them. Last year the Council received funding from The Executive Office for Refugee Integration Funding. This is to cover the Council working with local groups to support cultural integration activities, and needs-based projects, etc. This is not annual funding and no funding decision has been confirmed for this current financial year.

Q. Does the Council receive payment for each asylum seeker who comes to the District?
A. No — The Council does not receive money to accept refugees/asylum seekers, nor does it directly fund them. 

Last year the Council received funding from The Executive Office for Refugee Integration Funding. This is to cover the Council working with local groups to support cultural integration activities, and needs-based projects, etc. This is not annual funding and no funding decision has been confirmed for this current financial.

Q. Will joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network impact on the Council’s independence?
A. No - After joining the Council of Sanctuary Local Authority Network, the Council will carry on the work it is already doing in social inclusion and good relations, while being part of a wider Network that shares best practice and learning.

Our role is to ensure that anyone who is here, especially vulnerable people and children, are treated with dignity and supported in line with our legal and statutory duties.

Q. Will joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network attract higher numbers of illegal immigrants?
A. The Network is about supporting refugees and asylum seekers who are placed within our district. Seeking asylum is not illegal and is separate to issues of border control and immigration policy and legislation which sits with the UK Government.

Our role is to ensure that anyone who is here, especially vulnerable people and children, are treated with dignity and supported in line with our legal and statutory duties.

Q. Does Council of Sanctuary work influence asylum decisions, placements and/or immigration status?
A. No — this remains within the remit of the Home Office. The Council’s role is to respond appropriately to the needs of those who arrive here for the benefit of the whole community. 

Q. Can the Council influence who arrives or stays?
A. No — the Council responds to Home Office placement decisions and must fulfil its duties accordingly.

Q. Do Asylum Seekers choose to come to our district?
A. No — Asylum Seekers cannot choose where they live. They are housed in temporary accommodation and do not take priority over local housing lists.

Asylum Seekers who receive Refugee status tend not to remain in the longer term in our district and currently the number is amongst the lowest in Northern Ireland Council areas – currently less than 30.

Q. Does the Council decide where Asylum Seekers are accommodated?
A. No — the placement of individuals in asylum accommodation is currently managed by the Home Office and its contracted providers, not by the Council. Councils do not control immigration policy or asylum decisions and we are not responsible for allocating accommodation for asylum seekers. Our role is to ensure that all residents, regardless of their background, are treated fairly and supported so that they can integrate quickly.

Q. Are Asylum Seekers living in luxury hotels?
A. No — whilst some Asylum Seekers are accommodated in designated hotels as a short-term measure the number of hotels in Northern Ireland being used for this purpose has now reduced from eight to three. There are fewer than 300 Asylum Seekers in hotel accommodation at the current time and none within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area.

Q. Is the district not already flooded with illegal migrants?
A. Our community is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are students or workers on valid visas, supporting local businesses and healthcare; others are long-term residents from different countries who often enrich our community through work, family life and civic engagement; and a small number are seeking safety and protection. In fact, the number of asylum seekers in our district is among the lowest across Northern Ireland’s council areas.