Concerns over Illegal Migration Bill impact on London’s modern slavery victims

Of the 15,210 referrals made to police for modern slavery last year in England, 5,183 were made to the Metropolitan Police Service in London – making up 34 per cent of all referrals ^[1].

The Illegal Migration Bill was introduced to Parliament on the 7 March 2023.

The London Assembly is concerned that modern slavery referrals for those who come to the UK illegally will be disqualified, meaning that genuine modern slavery victims in London who attempt to escape their traffickers and seek help will be denied support and deported.

Because of this, it has today agreed a motion calling on the Chair of the Assembly to write to the Home Secretary to oppose the Illegal Migration Bill as it stands and to fill the role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to scrutinise such bills.

Unmesh Desai AM, who proposed the motion said:

“The Illegal Migration Bill could be just that, illegal. The United Nations and human rights groups have questioned the legality of the proposals.

“An Anti-Slavery Commissioner could scrutinise the Bill and expose it as the unworkable plan that it is, but the government have left the post unfilled.

“It is our duty as Assembly Members to oppose this dangerous and divisive bill on behalf of all Londoners.

“It is the government’s duty to appoint a new commissioner, so their decisions can be independently scrutinised and held to account.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that the Illegal Migration Bill was introduced to Parliament on the 7 March 2023. This Assembly also notes that charities and human rights groups have questioned the legality of the proposals, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has stated that the legislation “would amount to an asylum ban”, and the Home Secretary has acknowledged that the plans may not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

This Assembly notes that modern slavery is a greater issue in London compared to the rest of the UK. Of the 15,210 referrals made last year to police via the national referral mechanism for modern slavery, 5,183 were made to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in London which equates to just over a third of all referrals (34 per cent).

This Assembly expresses its profound concern about the implications of measures in this Bill, the legality of it and believes it is unworkable.

This Assembly abhors repeated attempts by this Government that appear to scapegoat those fleeing war and persecution, and stands in solidarity with refugees and migrants in search of a better life.

In particular, this Assembly shares the concerns raised with regards to this Bill that modern slavery referrals for those who come to the UK illegally will be disqualified. This means that genuine modern slavery victims in London who attempt to escape their traffickers and seek help will be denied support and deported. This could lead to difficulties in tackling modern slavery in London, and an increase of the crime as victims will be less likely to come forward.

This Assembly calls on the Chair to write to the Home Secretary to oppose the Illegal Migration Bill as it stands, to call for proper safe and functioning routes to asylum in the UK, and to fill the role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to scrutinise bills such as this.