The video, titled 'HMO Hunting in Leicestershire', was posted to the Truthhurts101UK YouTube account, which describes itself as run by an 'English nationalist citizen journalist' covering 'immigration, demographic change, policing and stories others overlook'. It was also posted to the associated TH101UK X account, where it has been viewed more than 300,000 times.
The footage shows three men entering the property through an unlocked back door and moving through several rooms, including the kitchen, where they examine the fridge. They say they are looking for 'paperwork', searching through letters near the front door and boxes in the back garden. When they encounter three men believed to be asylum seekers, they claim to be contractors assessing the property for repairs. One resident confirms the property is run by Serco, a Home Office contractor for asylum accommodation, and says he does not have paperwork.
A Serco spokesperson said: 'We are aware of this post. We take issues of this nature extremely seriously and are investigating.' A Home Office spokesperson said the safety and security of those in asylum accommodation is of 'upmost importance' to the government, adding: 'We engage extensively with contractors, local authorities and the police and expect any instances of criminality to be taken seriously.'
A TH101UK spokesperson defended the footage, described asylum seekers as 'ticking timebombs' and questioned why the Guardian was 'scrutinising independent journalism'.
In recent years there has been an increase of self-styled 'auditors', and far-right activists have attempted to gain access to hotels and other accommodation housing asylum seekers, sometimes under the guise of carrying out 'inspections'. The move from hotels to houses of multiple occupancy has given activists a new target, with some obtaining addresses from publicly available documents and sharing them in online groups. TH101UK entered another asylum property in Norfolk several months ago. YouTube confirmed the footage breached its standards and had been removed.