Lewisham Council votes to limit cooperation with Home Office immigration raids

Lewisham Council has voted to stop assisting Home Office immigration enforcement raids where legally permitted. The motion, passed on 22 July, directs the council to review its data-sharing agreements and refuse the use of council resources for immigration enforcement. It follows a 77% rise in raids across the UK since July 2024, as reported by the Home Office.

Home Office data obtained by Lewisham Anti-Raids under the Freedom of Information Act shows 177 raids took place in the SE13 postcode area during 2025. Two raids on 13 January 2026 in Brockley and Catford were attended by Immigration Minister Mike Tapp MP and a Sky News team. Only two arrests were made, both resulting in bail releases.

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Council to train migrant businesses on legal rights

Councillor Hau-Yu Tam, cabinet member for communities, sanctuary and healing, introduced the motion. She said the council would work with organisations like Lewisham Anti-Raids, AFRIL and the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network to train migrant businesses on their rights. Businesses will be advised to ask officers for warrants and consent forms before allowing access.

Tam told Salamander News the council would not break the law. "When we have a legal duty, for example, to report suspected illegal working, we will not stop doing that. We will not aid and abet illegal working, but we have to ensure immigration officers conduct raids in a way that respects people’s rights."

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Imagine that you own a small business, work hard, pay your taxes, and still receive intimidating visits from immigration officers simply because they know you are a migrant. That is a disgrace. These are deeply racist practices.

Councillor Wellington Gil, Lewisham’s first migrant champion

Labour amendments remove critical language

Labour councillors proposed amendments to the motion, removing words like "cruel" and "punitive" to describe national government policies. The amended motion includes a commitment to work with community groups to prevent modern slavery and exploitative labour practices in Lewisham businesses.

Deputy mayor Rudi Schmidt criticised the amendments during the meeting. He said Labour’s changes downplayed the "hostile environment" created by Home Office policies. "The hostility towards migrants stops them from speaking out against exploitation and emboldens rogue employers," he said.

Motion delayed by Labour filibuster in January

A similar motion was proposed by Tam and seconded by Liam Shrivastava in January 2026, before the Greens took control of the council in May. The motion was not discussed or voted on after the council meeting exceeded its three-hour limit. A procedural motion to extend the meeting was voted down by the Labour majority.

Tam accused Labour of filibustering in January to prevent the motion from being voted on. "Residents, politicians and communities were prevented from having that opportunity," she said. Labour declined to comment when asked by Salamander News why they did not propose their own version of the motion before the elections.

What happens next

The council will review its procurement contracts to identify any links to companies complicit in migrant abuses. It will also work with community groups to train migrant businesses on legal resistance to raids. The next formal step is a report to cabinet outlining the findings of the data-sharing and service agreement review, though no date has been set.