Ten councils join scheme to deport rough sleepers

Ten local authorities have signed up to a controversial Home Office service that could lead to the removal of some migrant rough sleepers from the UK.

A freedom of information response from the Home Office obtained by the Public Interest Law Centre has revealed that at least 10 councils have signed up to the Home Office’s Rough Sleepers Support Service between 15 September 2020 and 13 May 2021.

In April, new government guidance stated that migrant rough sleepers could have their permission to remain in the UK refused or cancelled if they have ‘repeatedly refused suitable offers of support and engaged in persistent antisocial behaviour’. The guidance adds that such decisions should be ‘reasonable and proportionate’.

The measures mean that councils sharing date with the Home Office could benefit some rough sleepers as it would enable officials to regularise their immigration status in the UK, but, in other cases, data could be used to help the Home Office remove them from the UK – either voluntarily or forcibly.

Benjamin Morgan, research and communications coordinator at the Public Interest Law Centre, said: “With the EU settlement deadline now past, it is extremely concerning that the use of deportation as a ‘solution’ to rough sleeping among non-UK nationals has once again reared its head.

“Local authorities and commissioned charities need to think twice before cooperating with Home Office policies, such as the new rough sleeping rule, which are certainly unethical and which we believe are also unlawful. The homelessness sector needs to stand up for the right to shelter – and to remain in the UK – of all EU citizens, something which the government has singularly failed to do.”