NEWS RELEASE
Thursday 16 September 2004
Blair is penalising asylum seekers instead of cracking down on human trafficking, says STUC
The Scottish Trades Union Congress today criticised the Prime Minister's hard line against asylum seekers who arrive in the UK without travel documents, instead of tackling the real criminals the human traffickers.
Speaking today Mary Senior, STUC Assistant Secretary, said:
"The STUC is alarmed at the Prime Minister's aggressive approach towards asylum seekers who don't have travel documents by threatening them with two years in jail. There are many reasons why asylum seekers may arrive in the UK without passports or identity documentation, particularly if they are fleeing violence and persecution".
"The Government should be focussing their attention on the unscrupulous people traffickers who are profiting from exploiting vulnerable people, instead of those who are being exploited".
Ms Senior added:
"It is important to get the message across that people trafficking is wrong, but stigmatising and cracking down on the victim is not the way to do this".
Ends
For further information:
Mary Senior
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- Below is a link to the press release issued by the Prime Minister detailing plans to jail asylum seekers without travel documents http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/news/pressreleases/destr oytravel_documents.html