Housing asylum seekers in former army barracks ruled unlawful for victims of torture

A high court ruled that changing accommodation policy to force survivors of trafficking, torture, and other serious violence to share rooms with strangers was unlawful. The government failed to meet its duties by not properly assessing the impact on survivors despite consistent evidence of serious risks of harm. The ruling may affect plans to expand shared housing and dormitories on Ministry of Defence land and to move asylum seekers out of hotels by the end of the parliament. A charity estimates that around 10,000 torture survivors in shared accommodation could be affected. The legal challenge was brought by organizations supporting asylum claimants who have experienced physical and mental assaults, arguing that a prior protective presumption against forced room-sharing existed before February 2024.

"The government failed in its duties when it forced survivors of trafficking, torture and other serious forms of violence to share rooms with strangers. Ministers also failed to assess the impact of the changes on survivors of torture and trafficking despite the longstanding, consistent evidence of the serious risks of harm, Mr Justice Sweeting said."

"The ruling could have an impact on the home secretary's plans to extend the use of shared accommodation and disused barracks to house asylum seekers. She plans to move asylum seekers out of hotels by the end of this parliament by placing many in shared housing and dormitories on Ministry of Defence land."

"The charity Freedom From Torture [FFT] estimates that 10,000 survivors of torture who are housed in shared accommodation could be affected by the ruling. Natasha Tsangarides, associate director of advocacy at the charity, said the judgment was a vital and resounding victory for survivors."

"A policy introduced by the last government in February 2024 forced survivors of trafficking, torture and other serious forms of violence to share rooms with strangers. Prior to that date, there was a protective presumption that survivors of torture, trafficking or other forms of serious physical, psychological or sexual violence should not be forced to share rooms, they said."

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