We are calling on the Home Office to immediately suspend all in-person immigration reporting and all other appointments, on account of the overwhelming fear of violent racist attacks in our communities. These attacks began after the incomprehensibly tragic murder of 3 young children in Southport, and the misinformation that was circulated as a result.

Over the past few days, we have been made aware of a long list of organisations and locations that the far-right is allegedly targeting to attack. As a result of this horrifying news, many organisations have modified their operations, due to the threat to their physical safety. 

This is no distant threat. We have seen rioters set fire to hotels being used to house people seeking asylum. Elsewhere, People of Colour and particularly Muslims, have been attacked on the streets, car windows smashed and shops looted. Several countries across the world have issued safety warnings to their citizens, advising caution to those planning to travel to the UK.

Why suspend immigration reporting?

Immigration reporting happens at Home Office reporting centres, and police stations across the UK. Reporting is an extremely stressful event for many people, now more so than ever. We have heard from people who have reporting appointments scheduled that they are scared to leave their homes, and scared to be near a Home Office building, for fear of attack. People are also scared of the potential legal consequences of missing a reporting appointment, and breaching their bail conditions. This is placing people in an impossible situation. 

Many people will feel unable to attend reporting appointments due to overwhelming fears over their physical safety. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person immigration reporting was suspended, on public health grounds. This current crisis also presents a huge risk to people who the Home Office have an urgent duty to protect. No one is safe until we are all safe.

Please join and amplify our call to the Home Office to immediately suspend all Home Office reporting appointments.

Time for allyship

We are also renewing our call for allyship. Now is the time to stand in solidarity with targeted and marginalised members of your community to say: ‘not in my name’. 

Language matters, and these attacks, while deeply horrific, are not surprising – they are the result of dehumanising and racist language used to talk about people with immigrant backgrounds, and those arriving in search of safety. 

It is no coincidence that these far-right attacks come after the rise of Reform UK received 4 million votes in the General Election, and we have seen exclusionary language peddled by the major UK political parties. The last government peddled popularist narratives around ‘stopping the boats’ and pursued offshoring to Rwanda. The framing of the (failed) Rwanda plan was steeped in crisis, and has created the frenzied conditions for this hotbed of hatred – it is no coincidence that placards at these far-right riots have sported these slogans. 

The new government has failed to create a new narrative, and continues to whip up anti-migrant sentiment with the announcement of a new 1,000 strong returns unit tasked with carrying out immigration enforcement in our communities. They are doing this while enabling private companies to profit from housing people seeking asylum in unsafe conditions.

‘We are not safe until we are all safe’. We must encourage our friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to resist this surge of fascism. 

Most importantly, we must act together to keep each other safe. You can download advice from Hope Not Hate on Staying Safe amidst Far Right Violence. It gives advice to groups supporting people, charities and community groups, as well as to people directly targeted by far-right violence. We have written a short blog with key information taken from this guide, which you can access here.

In solidarity, as always.

Right to Remain team