CAMPAIGNERS have raised concerns that migrant communities are not represented in the census due to fears about immigration control and lack of awareness of the national survey. 

Millions filled out their forms in England and Wales on Sunday —the information gathered provides a snapshot of the population, providing data that can be used to inform the government on how public funding should be spent.

But migrant groups have raised concerns that some communities are at risk of not being present in the once-in-a-decade survey. 

Migrants Organise said many of their members had approached it with questions, saying there was a “sense of worry and suspicion” around possible data sharing. 

“While the ONS [Office for National Statistics] reassures us that there is no data sharing, the census does not exist in a vacuum,” Migrant Organise chief executive Zrinka Bralo told the Morning Star today.

“Every day, migrants and refugees are faced with the government’s hostile environment policy, a policy and practice that embeds immigration controls into every aspect of society.”   

The group also said it was worried that migrants could face fines if they do not fill in the census, an offence which carries a penalty of £1,000.

Ms Bralo said it is vital for communities to be “seen, heard and listened to” but added: “We know many will be left out of the conversation which will, in turn, impact the services that are funded later on.”

An ONS spokesperson said that the safety of people’s information is a top priority, with responses protected by law and kept secure for 100 years. In reaching communities, the ONS said it has used 300 community engagement managers and advisers since October. 

But migrant rights group Regularise founder Munya Radzi told the Morning Star that the government had not done enough to reassure communities about the census. 

Mr Radzi said that there is a risk these groups could be missed out, leading to inaccurate data in areas with a high concentration of undocumented people. “Estimates suggest there are 250,000 undocumented children and young people in the UK, so if these numbers aren’t counted, it can have a detrimental impact,” he said.