Imprisonment of children and adults seeking safety in the UK: Launch of new report on criminalisation of asylum seekers

Drawing on new evidence gathered between February 2024 and April 2025 – including casework, FOI requests, court observations and interviews with affected individuals – the report documents how the UK’s criminal justice system continues to prosecute and imprison asylum seekers, including vulnerable individuals, survivors of torture, and children, simply for arriving by small boat.

This event will feature contributions from report co‑authors alongside legal and NGO partners, highlighting the key issues including the continuation of prosecutions despite a change in government, criminalisation of children through inaccurate age ‘assessments’ at port of arrival; the persistent failure to identify and protect victims of trafficking; and legal and human impacts of these prosecution.

This session will strengthen attendees’ understanding of the legal and policy context, share insights into how these laws are being implemented, particularly through conversation with people with lived-experience and make recommendations for policy, advocacy initiatives, public campaigning, and how best to offer direct support to those affected.

The panel will also speak on approaches to build collaboration across sectors to oppose the continued criminalisation of people seeking asylum in the UK. Campaigners, legal professionals, NGOs, and policy makers are invited to join the panel in challenging these harmful criminal justice policies and advocating for the rights of those seeking safety.

Speaker Panel:

Stephanie Harrison KC, Barrister, Host
Stephanie is a leading public law practitioner who has appeared at all court levels. She has vast experience in the most complex immigration & asylum claims. Her recent immigration practice has focused more heavily on policy challenges and often have a large crossover with her other specialisms including public law, civil liberties and equality & discrimination. Stephanie is highly committed to progressing the rights of immigrants & asylum seekers and has worked to positively change their experiences within the jurisdiction of UK authorities. She is ranked as a Tier 1 Leading Silk in Legal 500 and Band 1 of Chambers UK for Immigration.

Salah Eldin Adam, Lived-experience Speaker

Victoria Taylor, Oxford Border Criminologies
Vicky Taylor is a DPhil candidate at the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford, and Associate Director of Border Criminologies. Her PhD research focuses on the criminalisation of people crossing the Channel on ‘small boats’.

Maddie Harris, Humans for Rights Network
Maddie Harris (she/her) is the founder and director of Humans for Rights Network (HFRN). HFRN offers complex casework support, investigative evidence gathering and strategic advocacy and engagement in litigation to work with individuals to access justice and address systemic problems. Current priorities include the criminalisation of people seeking asylum, children wrongly treated as adults and border violence.

Basma Kamel, Refugee Legal Support
Basma Kamel (she/her) is the Outreach Officer at Refugee Legal Support. She works closely with newly arrived people in the UK, organising accessible information sessions on the asylum system. She also provides vital post-release support to individuals criminalised for their method of arrival, helping them navigate legal processes and access essential services.

Reserve your online or in-person ticket
In-person tickets are limited by the venue’s capacity. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm whether a place is available at the event.