Homeless hotel from hell has 700 police call-outs in six years

A hotel in Glasgow which houses homeless people including refugees has had more than 700 police call outs in the last five and a half years.

A notorious hotel for the homeless has had more than 700 police call-outs in the last five and a half years, according to a shock report.

Figures released by Police Scotland show they attended the Queens Park Hotel in the south-side of Glasgow 706 times from 2020 up to June this year - an average of more than twice a week. During that time officers investigated the deaths of six residents as well as sex and drugs offences, assaults, fraud, theft, missing persons, domestic violence, house breaking and firearms incidents

The most common call out was where there was " concern for a persons safety * at the hotel with 103 since 2020. Overall there were 89 police call-outs in 2020, 146 in 2021, 114 in 2022, 151, in 2023, 135 last year and 71 in the first six months of this year

Yesterday Linda McVean whose 30-year-old son Frankie died at the Queens Park Hotel in May 2023 from a drugs overdose called for it to be shut down.

Linda ,56, added: "I met a homeless man recently in the centre of Glasgow who said he was staying at the Queens Park Hotel.

"I felt like taking him home with me and letting him sleep on the couch.

"If Frankie hadn't gone to that hotel, Frankie wouldn't be dead.

"I just want to shut it down. I cant believe the number of times the police were called out.

"How are the owners getting way with it."

Frankie was not an addict when he entered his homeless accommodation but had dabbled with pills.

Linda feels that establishments like the Queens Park Hotel don't do enough for their vulnerable residents and the council should do more monitoring to make sure they are safe.

Laura Jones of the Scottish Tenants Organisation would like to see Glasgow City Council spending money providing their own homeless accommodation rather than handing it to hotels.

Laura said: "The amount of money they are spending on hotels for the homeless is absolutely obscene.

"The Queens Park Hotel has certainly been notorious for years."

Shelter Scotland Director Alison Watson added: "We know people can be placed in often unsuitable temporary housing which does more harm than good and can impact health, education and safety. "

The Queens Park Hotel has a contract with Glasgow City Council to provide accommodation for homeless men and women including refugees. In 2023 the Daily Record revealed that it was one of seven hotels paid a total of £8.2 million by the council in 2022.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers liaise regularly with the operators of the hotel to address any issues relating to criminality or anti-social behaviour, as well as to mitigate any impact on the wider community.

"Each incident is dealt with on its own merits and officers will continue to respond as required."

Last week the Daily Record reported that Glasgow City Council had spent £16.5 million on hotels and Bed and Breakfast for homeless people including refugees between April and July this year.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council is duty bound to find and provide emergency accommodation for people who present as homeless, and this means we have to use a range of buildings in the city.

"Of course, any death in such emergency accommodation is hugely regrettable, and given the lifestyle and complexity of need within the homeless population, there remains some risk of early mortality.

"All homeless people placed in hotel or B&B receive support from their allocated caseworkers from across a number of services.

"We are also in regular contact with Police Scotland.

"Additionally, Homelessness Services have support workers placed within Queens Park Hotel two-three days a week with well-being checks on residents carried out daily.

"All hotel staff, including security, have received Harm Reduction advice, Naloxone training and Mental Health First Aid Training.”

The Queens Park Hotel was contacted for comment