In The Press

A number of media outlets including BBC News and The Dumbarton Reporter are reporting on how potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery are among those due to be deported to Jamaica by charter flight next week. Public Law director, Toufique Hossain is representing 13 of the people due on Tuesday’s (11 February) flight and comments that he has “serious concerns” regarding the vulnerability of the people on the flight. One of his clients has been in the UK for many years and was convicted of a drugs offence when he was young. It was an offence he claims he was forced to commit by older gang leaders and Toufique notes; “…this sort of exploitation and forced criminal activity does very much go into the realms of trafficking and modern slavery.” As such, there have been calls to halt the flight until true facts of each situation have been established and in keeping with the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.