Vicky Taylor
@vickytaylor.bsky.social
640 followers 770 following 24 posts
Attempting DPhil · Border Criminologies · writing about the UK's criminalisation of asylum seeking · otherwise found in cold water somewhere
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Reposted by Vicky Taylor
mayblin.bsky.social
Great article from @vickytaylor in @opendemocracy on Labour's new one in one our policy: "Labour has done what they said they wouldn’t – introduce performative gimmicks to convince voters they’re in ‘control’ of migration." www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...
vickytaylor.bsky.social
Thanks Lucy! Appreicate the share
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
bordercrim.bsky.social
Our new report (led by @vickytaylor.bsky.social) provides a critical update on the UK government’s continued prosecution and imprisonment of people seeking safety—including refugees, trafficking survivors, and children—simply for arriving by ‘small boat’: www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/news...
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
oxfordcrim.bsky.social
Check out this updated reported by a team of committed colleagues including our very own DPhil student @vickytaylor.bsky.social
bordercrim.bsky.social
Our new report (led by @vickytaylor.bsky.social) provides a critical update on the UK government’s continued prosecution and imprisonment of people seeking safety—including refugees, trafficking survivors, and children—simply for arriving by ‘small boat’: www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/news...
vickytaylor.bsky.social
report to be published ....
vickytaylor.bsky.social
The Government’s proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill intends to introduce further criminal offences, justified as necessary to ‘smash the gangs’.

Given that existing offences are used to target people seeking safety, we believe that the new offences will be used in the same way.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
There is no evidence, from the UK or other jurisdiction, that prison sentences for ‘illegal arrival’ deter people from making irregular journeys to seek asylum.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
@humansforrights.bsky.social has identified 29 children prosecuted for 'illegal arrival', mostly for steering dinghies since June 2022. They are frequently imprisoned as adults, in adult prison.

17 of the 29 have now had their ages accepted as children. Others continue to dispute their age.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
Prosecuting asylum seekers for 'illegal arrival' breaches international law, and causes significant harm to people seeking safety in the UK.

Art 31 of the Refugee Convention should protect people from prosecution for how they arrive to a country to seek safety.

The CPS ignores its duties.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
Overall, from the introduction of the NABA 2022 offences on 28th June 2022 until the end of 2024, the best available data suggests that 556 people were charged with ‘illegal arrival’ having arrived on ‘small boats’, and 455 convicted.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
The research is based on casework by Humans for Rights Network, Captain Support UK and Refugee Legal Support; as well as court observations; data analysis of original FOI requests; and interviews with 8 people who have been imprisoned for ‘illegal arrival’ to the UK.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
Latest research in @theguardian.com with @humansforrights.bsky.social & @reflegalsupport.bsky.social

We document how ppl arriving on 'small boats', including asylum seekers, victims of trafficking & children are prosecuted for 'illegal arrival'

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
bordercrim.bsky.social
Border Criminologies ( @vickytaylor.bsky.social ) and @humansfordogs.bsky.social have submitted joint written evidence to the UK’s Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, addressing the new and expanded criminal offences in the proposed legislation: bills.parliament.uk/publications...
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
bordercrim.bsky.social
In response to the Border Security, Asylum & Immigration Bill introduced by the UK government on 30 Jan, Border Criminologies (@vickytaylor.bsky.social) and @humansforrights.bsky.social issued a briefing on the criminalisation provisions related to irregular arrival: www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/news...
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
ilpaimmigration.bsky.social
⚡ The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has its Second Reading in the @houseofcommons.parliament.uk today. Read our detailed briefing 👇

ilpa.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
nicolapalmer.bsky.social
The new ‘Border Security Bill’ heralds the legal & political end to the UK/Rwanda migration deal but life at the border, whether in the English Channel or in Kivu, remains securitized. My latest for @bordercrim.bsky.social

buff.ly/4i0arzd

@vickytaylor.bsky.social @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social
Life and Law at the Border: UK Immigration Law After Rwanda
buff.ly
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
bordercrim.bsky.social
In response to the UK government's new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, @vickytaylor.bsky.social and Catriona Götz have written this blog post analysing the implications of this bill and how it may further criminalise people on the move: blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
vickytaylor.bsky.social
We argue that the proposed new offences will imprison more people trying to seek safety and a better life in the UK

This is already happening - over 550 people have been imprisoned 2022-24 for crossing the Channel.

@captainsupportuk.bsky.social works in solidarity with them.
bordercrim.bsky.social
New on the blog!

@vickytaylor.bsky.social and Catriona Götz discuss the new offences on Labour's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration bbill, which would significantly expand the state’s ability to use criminal powers against those it labels as having played a role in ‘facilitating migration’.
“Security at the heart”: Criminalisation and Labour’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025
blogs.law.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
jonfeatonby.bsky.social
Excellent and timely article from @vickytaylor.bsky.social on how previous measures have criminalised people seeking to come to the UK and not smuggling gangs. The new Border Security Bill has the potential to only make that situation worse, while doing nothing to reduce dangerous journeys.
vickytaylor.bsky.social
The Border Security Bill seeks to further criminalise people seeking safety in the UK

Read about the current situation where people are imprisoned for crossing the Channel, & concerns about the new Bill here: blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

@bordercrim.bsky.social @captainsupportuk.bsky.social
vickytaylor.bsky.social
The Border Security Bill seeks to further criminalise people seeking safety in the UK

Read about the current situation where people are imprisoned for crossing the Channel, & concerns about the new Bill here: blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

@bordercrim.bsky.social @captainsupportuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Vicky Taylor
jonfeatonby.bsky.social
Section 59 of the IMA is also retained, which is definitely problematic. S59 makes any asylum or human rights claim made by a national of a "safe state" automatically inadmissible. Those states are listed and notably includes Albania. India and Georgia have since been added.