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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Planned UK people-smuggling laws risk ‘criminalising’ asylum seekers, charities say

Refugee groups said the powers would criminalise asylum seekers being forced to help people smugglers.
Refugee groups said the powers would criminalise asylum seekers being forced to help people smugglers. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Keir Starmer’s planned people-smuggling laws risk “criminalising” hundreds of asylum seekers, refugee charities have said, after it emerged that people who refuse to be rescued by the French authorities could be jailed for five years.

Some parents who bring their children to the UK in small boats could also face prosecution, which could ultimately split their families, a human rights assessment of the border security, asylum and immigration bill has concluded.

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