The UK Home Office has adopted new rules aimed at cracking down on the abuse of modern slavery laws by illegal immigrants and foreign criminals.
Previously, if a foreign national offender claimed to be a victim of modern slavery, any action to remove them would be paused while their claim was considered.
But from Monday, the government will be able to prevent anyone sentenced to 12 months or more, or convicted of serious offences such as murder or terrorism, from accessing the protections provided by the National Referral Mechanism.
An inflatable craft carrying illegal immigrants crosses the shipping lane in the English Channel off the coast of Dover, England, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Under the changes, the government will also be able to withdraw access to the initial and any wider protections if someone has been found to have made a “bad faith” claim to be a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking….