UK refugee scheme could lead to exploitation of Ukrainians, say experts

[dutchman]

Promise of ‘light touch’ checks prompts fears traffickers could see arrival of mostly women and children as opportunity



More than 120,000 Britons have expressed interest in hosting Ukrainian refugees, amid concerns that the new government scheme could lead to exploitation of vulnerable women and children.

The figure was released by the government on Tuesday evening, little more than 24 hours after Homes for Ukraine programme was launched to take in those fleeing Russia’s invasion, most of whom are women and children.

Under the scheme, UK householders will be given initial “light touch” checks and paid £350 a month if they take in named individuals.

Lauren Agnew, human trafficking policy expert at Christian Action, Research and Education, said the scheme is “well motivated” but could lead to exploitation.

“With large numbers of applications needing to be processed quickly, red flags could be missed in the vetting of potential hosts.

“Recent statistics from the National Crime Agency estimate there are at least 6,000-8,000 modern slavery offenders in the UK. We can be certain that some of this number will be seeing the Homes for Ukraine scheme as an opportunity to turn a profit,” she said.

Local government leaders have warned that the quick turnaround of arrivals could mean that accommodation is unsafe and relationships between sponsors and new arrivals break down.

James Jamieson, the chair of the Local Government Association, said: “With new arrivals possibly arriving as early as Sunday, councils are facing a very tight timeframe to make appropriate safety checks on accommodation being offered.

“There is a limit to what can be achieved by councils in such a short space … Despite good intentions, there is a risk that some accommodation offered may not meet safety expectations when inspected by councils or sponsorships may break down.”

Before the scheme launched, only Ukrainians with family links to the UK could apply for visas that would give them access to work and benefits.

But on Monday, the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, announced that sponsors could bring any Ukrainian to the UK to live in their home for a minimum of six months.

[dutchman]

Council has 'no clue' how many refugees have arrived in Warwick and Leamington



MP Matt Western has slammed the government's Homes for Ukraine and says the scheme is "failing" refugees fleeing the violence in their homeland. The Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington says there are systemic problems with the programme and that he was left in the dark when attempting to find out how many Ukrainian refugees had been resettled in the area.

More than five million people are said to have fled Ukraine since Russian troops invaded at the end of February. Yet little more than 1,200 refugees are understood to have been resettled in the UK as part of a scheme blasted as being "deliberately difficult to navigate".

More than 200,000 Britons have registered as sponsors able to take in refugees since the scheme was launched five weeks ago. Mr Western claims he was told by Warwickshire County Council that the number of refugees assigned to sponsors in his constituency is not systematically provided to local authorities.

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The communication breakdown is thought to stem in part from the fact sponsors and refugees make their own arrangements with regards to travel to the UK once a visa has been approved. Mr Western's office has been assisting more than a dozen families seeking help with their applications to the scheme.

He says he is aware of a handful of refugees being granted ‘permission to travel’ letters and expects them to make it to the constituency in the coming days if they haven’t already. But, he claims he's been unable to receive a straight answer when asking the most basic of questions to the relevant authorities.

Mr Western said: "Surely the council or the Home Office can provide these important figures for our area – especially given the safeguarding fears expressed by the UN. The fact no one can confirm the arrival of a single Ukrainian refugee in the district is extremely worrying – and shows what a failure this has been from the Home Office in particular."

The county council said they are contacting hosts when refugees arrive to "undertake checks" including accommodation, safeguarding and welfare.

About 25,000 visas have so far been issued under the scheme out of more than 55,000 applications, latest figures showed. As of April 20, 371 visas had been granted to Ukrainian refugees seeking resettlement in Warwickshire as part of Homes for Ukraine scheme .

According to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 91 refugees had arrived. Fifty-one were said to have taken up residence in south Warwickshire, 27 in Rugby Borough and 13 in North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

A county council spokesperson said: "The picture is changing daily, and we expect the numbers to increase. As you can imagine, guest arrivals are sometimes unpredictable given the difficulties faced with travel, administration and practical arrangements.

"When they do arrive, the county council and partners are contacting hosts and guests to undertake checks including the appropriate accommodation, safeguarding and welfare checks."

[rebbonk]

Yet another government sponsored cock-up!