The luxury apartment complex near the location of protests against asylum seekers has implemented a new policy to ban food delivery riders from entering the premises. This decision was made by the management company, Parkgate Aspen, in response to media reports claiming that some food delivery riders may be “undocumented” workers.
However, the food delivery companies, such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, reject this suggestion. They assert that they have strict protocols and zero-tolerance policies against employing undocumented couriers.
The deliveries ban is linked to ongoing controversies at a nearby Canary Wharf hotel, where protests against asylum seekers have taken place. The hotel had been suggested as a temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, which led to unrest in the area.
Parkgate Aspen issued a security notice to all residents at the Canary Riverside complex, highlighting concerns over security arrangements given the temporary housing of asylum seekers at the Britannia hotel. They claimed that the incident of shifting the hotel to accommodate migrant housing had raised concerns about security and led to protests.
The notice referred to press reports suggesting that many food delivery riders may be undocumented. They had been considering plans to restrict delivery riders’ entry into the complex. The company stated that immediate action was required in view of the incidents.
The ban applies exclusively to riders from Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, and similar services. However, grocery deliveries from companies like Ocado, Tesco, etc., would still be allowed at the discretion of residents.
While Parkgate Aspen claimed that feedback about the ban was “overwhelmingly positive”, some residents expressed unease about the sudden and arbitrary nature of the ban. They described it as a harmful byproduct of the prevailing anti-asylum seeker sentiment and claimed that authorities were quick to exploit such provocations to escalate tensions.
A spokesperson from Parkgate Aspen stated that the ban was not a new development, but rather a plan developed in reaction to the increasing cases of bad behaviour among the riders, such as harassment to residents. Additionally, they claimed that food delivery drivers were often subcontracting from the companies and many were undocumented. The spokesperson stated that grocery delivery services had fully trained staff, unlike food delivery services which often have undocumented and untrained drivers.
In response, all food delivery companies – Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats – reiterated their strict protocols and zero-tolerance against employing undocumented workers. They also added that video and identity verification technology was used to ensure security.
Outside the Britannia International Hotel on Marsh Wall, fresh protests were planned on Friday night, with involvement from far-right activists, leading to at least four arrests. The hotel was one of the initial protest locations following demonstrations outside the Bell hotel in Essex, where violent clashes with the police occurred. The protests outside the Britannia began peacefully, but later escalated into disturbances. Police served 28-day return bans on those accused of harassing the occupants of the hotel.
Police confirmed that people seen leaving the hotel on mopeds were hotel staff, and the reports of a police escort for a “migrant” delivery driver were unfounded. The police statement clarified that the escort was provided to a delivery driver delivering to the location.
The connection between asylum seekers and delivery drivers was propagated by supporters of the far right on social media, claiming that asylum seekers were working as delivery drivers while residing in the Britannia. Police have dismissed these claims.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/09/food-delivery-riders-banned-from-luxury-flats-in-london
