In response to reports today that, due to a change in policy set by the National Police Chiefs Council, police forces will no longer be obliged to automatically report victims of crime with an uncertain immigration status to the Home Office, Labour’s London Assembly Spokesperson for Policing and Crime, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“It is incredibly concerning that abhorrent crimes such as modern slavery, sexual assault and rape might have been going unreported due to the Government’s hostile environment policy.
“It takes a huge amount of courage for victims of crime to come forward, but the added threat of deportation, will silence some of the most vulnerable Londoners. That’s why I welcome this much needed change in policy.
“This is very positive and bold step from police chiefs in England and Wales, and something I have been campaigning in for in my work at City Hall”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes
-Unmesh Desai AM’s latest report, ‘Immigration Status and Victims of Crime’, can be read here;
-Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly for City and East (Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London).
For more information please contact Labour Group Press Officer, Tim Picton, on 020 7983 5639 or 07795616832. Number not for publication.