Immediate action required on information sharing

Article summary

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the College of Policing, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have published a joint report entitled ‘safe to share?’ following an investigation into the super-complaint made by Liberty and Southall Black Sisters regarding policing and immigration status. The investigation looked at migrants with an ‘uncertain’ immigration status in highly vulnerable circumstances such as victims of domestic abuse, modern slavery or human trafficking.  The report found that these migrants are fearful that their personal information will be shared with the Home Office if they report crimes to the police. As such, the report recommends that the police should restrict data sharing with immigration enforcement about vulnerable victims of crime.