Bail conditions are imposed where an individual without valid leave to remain in the UK comes into contact with Immigration Enforcement (IE) and are not imminently removable. For example, where a legal barrier or lack of travel document prevents their return. The individual would be placed on reporting. This is a form of contact management, whereby individuals are required to attend a Reporting Centre (managed by IE) or a police station on a regular basis. UKVI, Asylum, Criminal Casework, Removal Casework and ICE all feed cases into the reporting population. The frequency at which an offender reports is based on their removability, the risk they pose to the public and their vulnerability. There are 14 Reporting Centres throughout the UK and over 100 police stations where individuals are required to report. These are serviced by c.210 Full Time-Equivalent (FTE). When attending a reporting event, an individual may be interviewed to gather information that allows Immigration Enforcement to apply for a travel document and make a decision on an outstanding application or promote a voluntary return. When an individual becomes removable, they may be detained at a Reporting Centre or a Police station when they next report. Significant changes have been made to bail conditions, and to reporting requirements, considering the evolution of the current pandemic. We do not routinely publish the information that has been requested, however, requiring a child to report will be rare and the decision will be made on a case by case basis by the reporting and offender management teams, taking into account every child matters: statutory guidance and the best interests of the child. Home Office defines an age dispute case as one where an individual: - Claims to be a child.
- The categories such as credible and clear documentary evidence that they are 18 years of age or over or prior to detention gave a date of birth that would make them an adult and/or stated they were an adult; and only claimed to be a child after a decision had been taken on their asylum claim, entry to the UK or immigration status do not apply.
- The individual is unable to prove he/she is under 18 years old and is awaiting a Merton compliant age assessment to confirm their age.
It’s also important to note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced interim guidance on reporting for individuals which means that not everybody within the reporting population is currently required to report in-person. There is no change to the case working process. Caseworkers make decisions regarding who is required to attend a Reporting Centre on behalf of the Secretary of State. Caseworkers evaluate each case based on up to date circumstances and in accordance with law. The decision is made to set up reporting in line with the existing bail and reporting policies as well as the new interim reporting guidance. Based on recent data only a very small percentage of the reporting population are currently required to report in-person as a condition of bail at this time. Initially, there was a temporary suspension on in-person reporting for those who would otherwise be required to report, which was applied from 17 March 2020. Following the introduction of large-scale testing and a reduction in the rates of transmission, and in light of the scientific advice as to the measures that could be implemented to enhance public safety, reporting centres then re-opened, initially through two pilot schemes commencing on 20 July 2020, and then through other centres. COVID-19 risk assessments and safe systems of working were introduced, together with other safety measures, including, where appropriate, an adjustment of the time slots for reporting. Following the introduction of further national restrictions in November 2020 and January 2021, the Home Office’s approach was reviewed and revised again, as reflected in the latest COVID-19 interim guidance, “Reporting and offender management – interim guidance” (Version 3.0). Currently only individuals within five priority cohorts are expected to report in-person at reporting centres, or in some locations Police stations, these groups are categorised as:- (a) foreign national offenders (FNOs)/High Harm/Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) or other security cases. Persons who are on Restricted Leave.
- (b) those who have shown a willingness to return home voluntarily and where reporting will aid the process of return
- (c) those who have not returned home and who have not engaged with our Voluntary Return programme – including delivery of a Detention on Reporting (DOR)
- (d) those identified for removal
- (e) those who are not immediately removable but have failed to comply with telephone contact and are currently ‘out of contact.’
Please see the link below to the interim guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940714/rom-interim-guidance-v1.0ext.pdf |
