We call on the UK Home Office to immediately suspend all immigration reporting conditions in light of the ongoing public health emergency posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and in particular in light of the announcement of a second “lockdown” in England to last until 2 December.

The UK government’s current guidance advises that people “must stay at home and avoid travel in the UK or overseas, unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons.” Reporting presents an unjustifiable risk and threat to those individuals required to report. The legally permitted reasons specified by the government are those for which non-attendance will cause greater public harm than attendance and risk of transmission of the virus. 

Those subject to immigration bail reporting conditions are disproportionately of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (“BAME”) origin. Multiple studies have shown that people from these communities, especially Black people, have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forcing these communities to report in person during a pandemic will further entrench pre-existing health inequalities, and amounts to indirect racial discrimination.