THE government must stop forcing refugees and asylum-seekers to attend Home Office reporting centres at set dates and times, campaigners demanded today. 

Eleven Labour MPs, supported by campaign groups, signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Home Office to suspend so-called “in-person reporting” for those subject to immigration bail conditions, saying that it creates a “death trap” for refugees and asylum-seekers – who either risk infection or face deportation.

The practice was suspended during the first lockdown in line with the government’s guidance that all individuals should avoid non-essential public transport and non-essential gatherings in public spaces, with people permitted to report by telephone or text.

 Now, during the second lockdown, they have been told to attend Home Office centres or face breaking their immigration bail conditions.

Simba Mujakachi, who moved to Britain from Zimbabwe as a teenager, has to report to the Home Office regularly: “Going to report is very, very stressful as you don’t know if you’re going to be let out or detained. 

“You don’t get support from the Home Office, you have to find your own way there, which is very difficult. And you’re made to feel like a criminal for asking for a home.

“During the first lockdown, they were sending text messages to check on people, which shows there was no need to harass people – there is a way to do this that doesn’t make people feel frightened.”

Right to Remain coordinator Michael Collins said: “This reporting system – which serves no real purpose for the Home Office – is expensive to run, puts thousands of people under terrible stress, puts lives at risk and undermines local and national efforts to control the pandemic.”