John Grayson

John Grayson is an independent researcher and adult educator. He is an activist and campaigner with SYMAAG (South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group). He writes regularly for openDemocracy and for the Institute of Race Relations news service www.irr.org.uk

Five lessons Britain must learn from the botched privatisation of asylum housing

A Parliamentary watchdog reports on the dangerous consequences of an ill-conceived, badly planned and poorly executed rush to privatise

By John Grayson

/ 24 Apr 2014

How to use housing to hurt people: Britain's hostile environment for asylum seekers

The hidden injuries of asylum housing — inflicted by G4S.

By John Grayson

/ 7 Apr 2014

UK watchdog takes another bite out of failing outsourcer G4S

Commercial outsourcers fail and fail again. Privatisation hurtles on. The Public Accounts Committee has been interrogating executives and civil servants about the degradation of asylum housing in England.

By John Grayson

/ 12 Feb 2014

G4S owes thousands of pounds on energy bills

It's Britain's leading meter-reader. But in the homes it provides for asylum seekers, outsourcing giant G4S leaves energy bills unpaid.

By John Grayson

/ 13 Nov 2013

Living with rats. Landlord G4S

While a company executive assured the UK Parliament there was nothing to worry about, a child in a G4S house counted rats.

By John Grayson

/ 12 Nov 2013

Welcome to Britain: 'Go Home or Face Arrest'

For decades racists have yelled "Go Home" at minority ethnic and Black people. Now the government is doing it in a reviled and provocative advertising campaign aimed, ostensibly, at 'illegal immigrants'. John Grayson reflects on a nasty piece of work. See also We all belong to Glasgow - Refugees A

By John Grayson

/ 6 Sep 2013

After Mubenga unlawful killing verdict: Could asylum seekers have a worse landlord than G4S?

• Inquest jury return unlawful killing verdict • Jimmy Mubenga died after 'restraint' by three G4S guards • G4S executives David Banks and Stephen Small gave flawed evidence to UK parliamentary committee about restraint techniques • Lately Stephen Small dismissed allegations about abuse of asylum

By John Grayson

/ 9 Jul 2013

G4S asylum-housing fiasco descends into farce

Things aren't going well in the UK's new asylum housing 'market' that is dominated by the world's biggest security company. Now G4S threatens to evict an asylum-seeker because G4S has failed to pay her rent. Are public services safe in its hands?

By John Grayson

/ 15 May 2013

Their secret is out, but for G4S and friends ‘abject disregard' for human dignity persists

Landlords get richer. Women are harassed in their homes. The UK Border Agency's contractor G4S is using subcontractors who are not up to the task. The newly privatised market in asylum housing is a shambles and a warning.

By John Grayson

/ 18 Mar 2013

Security giant G4S rejects ‘World’s Worst Company’ nomination

The world’s leading security company, G4S, says it doesn’t deserve to be nominated for Public Eye’s World’s Worst Company Award. Two activists examine G4S’s defence.

By John Grayson

/ 23 Jan 2013

Ten reasons to vote for G4S as the World's Worst Company

The infamous Public Eye award wants your vote on the company that most deserves naming and shaming. Activists from South Yorkshire to the Canton of Vaud are backing security company G4S to win. Here's why.

By John Grayson

/ 10 Jan 2013

A cockroach in the baby’s bottle: asylum-seeker housing by security giant G4S

Angela and her baby are among thousands of vulnerable people being forcibly re-housed as the UK government converts asylum-seeker housing into a profitable business.

By John Grayson

/ 17 Dec 2012