Andrew Dismore

The London Assembly have passed a motion condemning the alleged heavy-handed approach taken by the Home Office through enforcement raids of Chinatown, most recently on 5 July 2018, which led to a strike by workers and businesses in the community.

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore proposed the motion, saying:

‘The streets of London’s Chinatown are normally full of tourists and local people coming and going from supermarkets, restaurants and bakeries. But the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) fears about the future of the area. A tightening of immigration rules means that the area, established in Soho since the 1970s, could disappear.

‘One issue is the heavy-handed enforcement raids, the subject of this motion, which community leaders say are “fishing” for illegal immigrants. Home Office vans are visiting monthly, often without warrants, and disrupting trade, as part of the government’s “hostile environment” strategy. The community is seen as an “easy-target”, with raids not always “intelligence-led”.

‘Tensions came to a head last July when immigration officers clashed with protesting crowds, resulting in an elderly woman being taken to hospital. She lay down in front of an immigration van. The woman who is deaf was trying to plead with the officer not to take away a worker, who was from the same village as her. She was kneeling down and begging.

‘Waiters, chefs and shop workers downed tools on 24 July in a mass walkout to protest against this recent incident as well as the growing number of raids. Chinatown was on strike in protest.

‘The LCCA’s main complaint is that enforcement actions often take place without a warrant – an issue they have addressed with the Home Office – at peak hours of trading and are often heavy-handed and aggressive. The raids affect business because the vans block the road and stop people coming into the area. the way it is handled gives a bad impression to customers, creating the image that Chinatown is crime ridden.

‘A recent raid on a bakery resulted in no arrests. They came in and said they were looking for someone. They stopped everyone, customers as well and at the end they didn’t find anyone.

‘Issues between the Home Office and Chinatown are not new. In 2013, Chinatown also went into shutdown as business owners protested against constant raids, which left them feeling targeted.

‘The LCCA do not support illegal migrants but want fair treatment. whilst the Metropolitan Police have recognised the need for dialogue and are apologetic over the 5th July incident and have met with Chinatown leaders to look at ways of resolution, the Home Office have not been proactive in doing so.

‘Constant raids are not the only concern for restaurant-owners. A big issue is the lack of staff especially chefs, which also affects south Asian restaurants too. When a chef retires there is no one else to take their place.

‘The LCCA want to make sure Chinatown continues to thrive but if they are not able to sustain their business with the right kind of chefs and supporting staff in kitchen, it’s very difficult. If Chinatown starts disappearing the loss will not just be to business owners but to London as a whole as we lose a cultural landmark.

‘This is why I am urging the London Assembly to write to the Home Secretary to raise the issue of the heavy-handed tactics of officers, and to encourage more positive engagement with Chinatown community groups concerning immigration policy and enforcement.’

ENDS

Notes:

• Andrew Dismore is the Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
• Text of Mr Dismore’s motion to the London Assembly:

“The Assembly condemns the alleged heavy-handed approach taken by the Home Office through enforcement raids of Chinatown, most recently on 5 July 2018. A report in the Guardian notes that immigration officers clashed with protesting crowds, resulting in an elderly woman being taken to hospital. The woman was filmed as she lay down in front of an immigration van as crowds gathered.

“The London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA’s) allegations are that enforcement actions often take place without a warrant, happen at peak hours of trading and are often heavy-handed and aggressive. A protest throughout Chinatown on 24 July 2018 demonstrated the deep concerns and feelings in “London’s Chinese community against what they see as targeting by the Home Office.

“The Assembly considers Chinatown to be a vital part of London’s economic and cultural success, and an important link with the emerging economies of Asia. To lose Chinatown would be a disastrous loss of a draw for tourism and business.

“The Assembly resolves to write to the Home Secretary to raise concerns about the alleged tactics of Immigration officers and to ask that dialogue is opened up with the LCCA and other Chinese community groups on how best to enforce immigration rules.”