Asylum seekers forced to travel miles to sign on with Home Office during lockdown (The Independent) (16 November 2020)

Duncan Lewis Solicitors are in the process of challenging Home Office policy which states that asylum seekers and victims of trafficking must travel on public transport during lockdown restrictions in order to report to officials in person. We argue that in-person reporting should not be resumed in anyone’s case without an individualised review as to whether it is necessary in the circumstances of the pandemic. People who are awaiting a decision on their application to remain in the UK – including modern slavery victims and torture survivors – are required to regularly sign on at a Home Office reporting location. This requirement was temporarily suspended in March because of the pandemic, but in August and September the Home Office sent texts to people stating that they must start reporting in person again “due to the easing of Covid lockdown measures”. Since 5 November, when the government announced a second lockdown – telling people to “stay at home” where possible – migrants with reporting conditions have been informed that they must continue to sign on with the Home Office in person.