"UK's 'Illicit Arrival' Law Raises Concerns: Victims of Abuse Prosecuted. New data has revealed a disturbing trend in the UK, where over 1,100 people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, have been convicted of crossing the English Channel by irregular means since 2022. The convictions are a result of the Home Office's introduction of the 'illegal arrival' offence, aimed at deterring migrants from attempting to enter the country by boat or in hidden compartments of lorries. Critics argue that this policy may be inadvertently punishing vulnerable individuals who have already suffered immense trauma, rather than addressing the root causes of migration and providing safe and humane pathways for asylum seekers."
Data shows victims of torture and trafficking among those prosecuted for crossing Channel by irregular meansMore than 1,100 people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, have been convicted of illegally arriving in the UK since 2022, according to freedom of information data.The Home Office introduced the offence of illegal arrival in 2022 in a bid to deter those planning to come to the UK by small boat or by other irregular means such as lorries. Continue reading...
