We have noted the BBC’s investigation into alleged false domestic abuse claims made by migrants to obtain leave to remain.
Criminal activity by fraudulent and unregulated advisers is unequivocally condemned and represents a serious threat to genuine survivors of domestic abuse. However, we are deeply disappointed by the reporting, which presents the actions of a small minority as indicative of a wider trend and implies the existence of a large‑scale, systemic problem.
Collective experience
The Birmingham NRPF Women’s Support Network brings together decades of collective experience in supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Over the past four years alone, we have supported hundreds of migrant women to escape abusive situations, access essential support, and begin to rebuild their lives.
We know first‑hand the profound challenges faced by women experiencing domestic abuse when it comes to reporting abuse to the police and leaving the marital home. These challenges are significantly intensified where a woman’s immigration status –  and therefore her ability to remain in the UK – is dependent on the perpetrator.
Many women are understandably reluctant to leave their homes due to the very real fear of becoming destitute, homeless, and unable to access basic services as a result of insecure immigration status. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner estimates that approximately 32,000 victims and survivors in England and Wales would seek support but are prevented from doing so because of their No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) status. Insecure immigration status is frequently exploited by perpetrators as an additional tool of coercion and control.
What does the data show?
Moreover, Home Office data shows that only around 6% of police‑recorded domestic abuse results in conviction, and that only one in five victims has the confidence to report abuse at all. These realities underline the significant barriers to justice faced by survivors, particularly those with insecure immigration status.
Migrant survivors of domestic abuse are among the most vulnerable people in our society. Suggestions that the evidential thresholds required to access immediate settlement as a survivor of domestic abuse are insufficiently robust are dangerous. Such narratives risk further deterring survivors from seeking help, exposing them to greater harm, and undermining years of progress made under the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) agenda.
There remains much more work to be done to ensure that all survivors of domestic abuse are able to live free from violence and coercion, and that support is available, effective, and accessible to all – regardless of immigration status.
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