This piece has started my morning off all wrong so I'm going to have to do a thread, guys π§΅π
Extraordinary reactions from Conservative MPs to the CPS finally recognising what we all know:
Entering the UK for the purpose of seeking asylum is not a crime thetimes.co.uk/article/a18256β¦
Extraordinary reactions from Conservative MPs to the CPS finally recognising what we all know:
Entering the UK for the purpose of seeking asylum is not a crime thetimes.co.uk/article/a18256β¦
(first, JCWI is a charity, it is extremely odd to refer to us as a 'left wing pressure group' & I hope the Times will amend this promptly)
Several asylum seekers are currently serving prison sentences for actions the CPS now admits should not have been prosecuted. It's not over.
Several asylum seekers are currently serving prison sentences for actions the CPS now admits should not have been prosecuted. It's not over.
The law against facilitating illegal entry has traditionally been used to prosecute smugglers.
People bringing migrants to the UK, often with no regard to their safety, for money.
Only recently has the govt started using it, horrifyingly, to prosecute asylum seekers themselves.
People bringing migrants to the UK, often with no regard to their safety, for money.
Only recently has the govt started using it, horrifyingly, to prosecute asylum seekers themselves.
They have been pursuing these prosecutions despite the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders telling them in Dec 2019 that "there were no organised crime group members onboard the boats" & that smuggling gangs operate only in France.
gov.uk/government/pubβ¦
gov.uk/government/pubβ¦
There's more. The NCA also warned them that it had received intelligence of asylum seekers being subjected to forced labour by smugglers in France, that they had no choice but to assist by e.g. steering boats across the Channel. Essentially that they're victims of modern slavery.
This govt's approach to Channel crossings plays right into the hands of smugglers.
One refugee from Yemen said "[The smuggler] told me, βI can kill you here, no one will identify me & I will escape.β He said, βI could now accuse you of being a smuggler, you could be in jail."
One refugee from Yemen said "[The smuggler] told me, βI can kill you here, no one will identify me & I will escape.β He said, βI could now accuse you of being a smuggler, you could be in jail."
That quote from this excellent Indy piece by Lizzie Dearden. The information about this stuff has been out there for months.
The government choses to continue to pursue the victims of smugglers EXACTLY as the smugglers themselves rely on them doing. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-nβ¦
The government choses to continue to pursue the victims of smugglers EXACTLY as the smugglers themselves rely on them doing. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-nβ¦
Finally the CPS has published new guidance clarifying the law: entering the UK to seek asylum, even when forced to do so through irregular means, is not a crime and must not be prosecuted.
This is a very good thing, an important protection for refugees in desperate situations.
This is a very good thing, an important protection for refugees in desperate situations.
Back to the astonishing response from the Tories in the Times article that got me ranting this morning. This is important, it's what they'll say when defending their awful Bill over the next months in parliament.
It is despicable to continue to smear asylum seekers as smugglers.
It is despicable to continue to smear asylum seekers as smugglers.
I also find it interesting that the Times has quoted both those MPs without naming them...
Still, of course Nick Timothy isn't shy to put his name to this complete rubbish, why would he be? A reminder that Timothy 'masterminded' Theresa May's election campaign Go Home vans...
Still, of course Nick Timothy isn't shy to put his name to this complete rubbish, why would he be? A reminder that Timothy 'masterminded' Theresa May's election campaign Go Home vans...
Also unsurprising is Patel's response. Determined as ever to press on with her new Bill, which aims to further criminalise asylum seekers, dramatically increase sentences & crucially,
STILL not do anything that the criminal gangs of smugglers in France wouldn't want her to do.
STILL not do anything that the criminal gangs of smugglers in France wouldn't want her to do.
I'll end it here, just with another reminder that Priti Patel is the smugglers' most helpful ally.
As long as our borders are closed and deadly, they can extort and exploit people who need passage. This will not stop until we offer people another way. theguardian.com/global-developβ¦
As long as our borders are closed and deadly, they can extort and exploit people who need passage. This will not stop until we offer people another way. theguardian.com/global-developβ¦
Thank you to the Times editors for correcting its description of JCWI. We are (of course) a politically neutral organisation and have simply pushed for the CPS guidance to reflect the existing law of this country for the protection of fundamental human rights. π #smallwins
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