UK's new policy to confiscate asylum seekers' phones draws widespread condemnation

2 days ago7 min read

A new Home Office directive, effective from Monday, permitting the seizure of mobile phones from asylum seekers arriving by small boat has been met with strong criticism from human rights organisations and legal experts. The policy, applying to individuals processed at the Manston facility in Kent, allows authorities to confiscate devices and extract data without making an arrest.Campaigners argue this strips vulnerable people of a crucial link to family, legal representatives, and evidence supporting their claims. They state that for many fleeing persecution, a phone is a vital lifeline, not merely a personal item.The move is seen as part of a broader strategy creating a 'hostile environment', alongside the Rwanda deportation plan and the Illegal Migration Act. Critics warn the practice likely violates privacy and data protection laws and could severely impact the mental well-being of trauma survivors.Concerns have also been raised about the scope and security of the data extracted, including private messages and photographs. Solicitors suggest the administrative use of such invasive powers, typically reserved for criminal investigations, sets a dangerous precedent.The policy reflects an increasingly digitised and harsh approach to border control, with detractors arguing it prioritises political messaging over a fair and functional asylum system. The human cost, they say, will be increased isolation, anxiety, and further erosion of trust in the UK's asylum process.

#asylum seekers

#mobile phone seizure

#Manston processing centre

#human rights

#UK Home Office

#immigration policy

#data privacy

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