Pandemic?

Local Authority Responses to people with NRPF during the pandemic

“Work to ensure recourse to public funds where possible, transfer cases to asylum support as appropriate, use 'quick wins' to justify longer support to other more complex cases. Consult with leadership about the approach they want us to take and in light of competing pressures.”

Manager in a London local authority

Policy change

Most local authorities who responded to the call for evidence identified policy changes that would improve support for people with NRPF. These included: the suspension or ending of NRPF; adjustments to the welfare system to allow people with NRPF to access welfare benefits; funding to provide accommodation; increased access to free immigration advice; and quicker resolution of cases by the Home Office. Some local authorities suggested that specific groups affected by NRPF should be given access to welfare benefits (such as those with ‘Limited Leave to Remain’ who had been working but had lost employment during the pandemic). One local authority officer said they would like the local authority to continue to support young people with NRPF in the same way after the end of lockdown.

Half of respondents had made calls to central government about NRPF during the pandemic (see Figure 21). In some cases, local authorities had repeatedly raised the issue with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Others had little capacity due to the pressures of the pandemic, or were wary. One local authority officer in the East of England stated: ‘In view of the hostile environment and the Windrush scandal I do not trust the Home Office - I have no desire to become an outsourced immigration officer.’

Figure 21: Has your local authority made calls to MHCLG or the Home Office about NRPF during the Pandemic?

Provision of support to people with NRPF