Hundreds of migrants who came here in search of a new life when their countries joined the European Union are sleeping rough after being unable to find work.

Lured by misleading media reports at home, tens of thousands of east European job-seekers flocked to the capital after EU expansion on 1 May. The Evening Standard reveals the harsh life endured by many now stranded in Britain with no jobs nor any prospect of returning.

Some are destitute; others have been robbed or conned by their countrymen. Hundreds sleep rough under bridges and at Victoria coach station yards from their arrival point. Most are Polish, and survive on food handouts from Christian charities and donations from London's Polish community.

One Polish Londoner said: "They come thinking there is a kiosk on Victoria with a translator who will send them to work. There are no tents, no places to sleep, not one translator.

"These aren't rocket scientists. They speak no English and just give up when they find out what it is like. They are in despair."

A senior Scotland Yard officer said police had noticed a rise in the number of rough sleepers from Europe.

He said: "It is not so much crime, more difficulties in what to do with them. They often don't have money for hotels we found up to 20 sleeping in squares. We are working with councils to address the problem."

Britain's biggest Polish organisation, the Union of Poles, claims the number of migrants from the country to the UK doubled just after border controls were lifted.

Many have fallen victim to Polish conmen. Leszek Grykcow, 46, said: "They put ads in the papers in Poland. They offer a good job in England with no need of English. The person rings a Polish mobile number and pays a 'deposit' of £79 to £90. Then he gets a UK mobile number. At Victoria he calls the mobile and pays £150 to £200. He receives another number, which doesn't work. You put your trust in them because they are Polish."

Next month Westminster council will hold talks with the Home Office over plans to take hundreds home free by bus.

A council spokesman said: "We need to get the message across in Poland that if you come, don't assume you are going to walk into a job."

© Evening Standard

By Nigel Rosser

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