People living in fear of immigration raids may be avoiding vital support services because they do not trust the council to keep their information private, a senior Lambeth councillor has warned. Lambeth Council is urgently reviewing how it shares information and intelligence with Immigration Enforcement, including current policies, practices and partnerships.
Review initiated by Green councillor
The review has been brought forward by Green councillor Jonathan Bartley, Lambeth Council's Cabinet Member for Safer, Thriving Neighbourhoods, who represents Clapham Town ward. Cllr Bartley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "There will be many people whose immigration status is unclear, and they will be often exploited by a landlord or exploited in terrible working conditions. They will be suffering and they will not come forward for help, while they feel that they can't trust the council, and while they feel that the council might pass on their details to Immigration Enforcement and they might be put in a detention centre."
Trust and exploitation concerns
Cllr Bartley, former co-leader of the national Green Party and passionate about defending refugee rights, initiated the review shortly after becoming a cabinet member. He added: "It is absolutely crucial to get the trust of residents who I think probably more often than not will be exploited because they are in a very vulnerable situation. It's about getting the trust of those people who would potentially be exploited in the borough, and assure them that the council is there to support them and has their welfare at heart and won't pass them over to the authorities and won't co-operate and pass on the information to Immigration Enforcement."
Manifesto commitment and national context
The review reflects a commitment made as part of the Lambeth Green Party's manifesto, which sets out its stance on opposing immigration raids and not granting access to Immigration Enforcement beyond the minimum legal requirement. The review comes at a time when anti-immigration politics are taking centre stage and racist attacks across the UK are becoming more common. The review seeks to establish a "clear and transparent picture" of Lambeth Council's existing information sharing arrangements.
Reassuring communities
Cllr Bartley says local immigration raids have caused fear and are dividing Lambeth's residents, and said the review is about "reassuring Lambeth's communities that we've got their backs and that they are safe." However, he added: "But we realise we've got to prove that the stakes are incredibly high for those people who face going to detention centres and being deported."
Coincides with Refugee Week
The council's announcement of the review coincides with national Refugee Week, which takes place from June 15 to June 21 and celebrates the contributions and resilience shown by refugees and communities who have been displaced. Lambeth was recently re-accredited as a Borough of Sanctuary, which recognises its status as a welcoming place for people fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries. The Home Office has been approached for comment.
