Lewisham has become the first council in the UK to refuse to assist Home Office immigration raids.
Lewisham Council has become the first local authority in the UK to refuse to assist Home Office immigration raids wherever "legally possible".
A motion to that effect, proposed by the Green administration, was formally agreed at a meeting of Lewisham's full council at the Town Hall on Wednesday.
The motion included a review of the council's data-sharing and service agreements, and pledged not to use council resources or public money for immigration enforcement.
A Home Office spokesperson said, while immigration enforcement visits are intelligence led, they make "no apology" for joining local authorities to enable information sharing and " fighting criminals who fuel immigration crime".
Home Office data, obtained under freedom of information by the grassroots organisation Lewisham Anti-Raids, indicates that Lewisham has become a "major focus" for immigration enforcement, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
The data shows 177 raids occurred in the SE13 area during 2025.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact our team at T & M Legis for a consultation with our Legal Experts.
