"Lives were upended by this confiscation, said one campaigner. There must be strict safeguards so it never happens again."
"This beggars belief. The taxpayer should not be made to hand over huge sums to people who have made their way here illegally to break into the country. If granted permission, they should instead be required to repay the huge costs of maintaining them while their applications are processed."
"Nearly 2,000 phones were taken from migrants in an indiscriminate blanket policy that the High Court has now found to be unlawful on multiple fronts. All of this had real impacts on very vulnerable people, who lost touch with their families and couldn't get their asylum documentation, while the phones languished on a shelf for many months, many which now cannot be returned."
Authorities confiscated hundreds of migrants' mobile phones as they crossed the English Channel, preventing contact with loved ones and access to legal advice. The High Court found the Home Office acted unlawfully in the seizures. The government admitted unlawfulness and pledged payouts, with eligibility details and amounts to follow. To date 32 asylum seekers have received £210,800, 41 cases remain unresolved, and the total taxpayer bill could reach £480,887. Campaigners describe severe stress and disruption and demand safeguards. Critics call for repayment of maintenance costs by successful applicants. Legal representatives highlight nearly 2,000 phones taken under a blanket policy that harmed vulnerable people.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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