The mother of a woman killed by an asylum seeker has criticized justice officials for allegedly attempting to withhold data on migrant-related crime, amid ongoing calls from victims and their families for greater transparency. Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was fatally stabbed by Deng Majek, an asylum seeker residing at the hotel where Rhiannon worked, expressed frustration over the refusal of Justice Secretary Alex Norris to respond to repeated requests for the release of crime data.
Labour Party officials are reportedly seeking to block the publication of information detailing foreign-national offending in England and Wales between 2018 and 2024. Ms. Whyte, joined by 14-year-old victim of sexual assault Hadush Kebatu and survivors of grooming gang crimes, co-signed a letter demanding that the Ministry of Justice publish the statistics. However, the group of 11 families has yet to receive a reply.
Ms. Whyte described the government's stance as “insulting,” questioning the reasons behind efforts to prevent the data's disclosure. She emphasized that publishing the figures is a necessary first step to informing the public and preventing further crimes by migrants.
The Ministry of Justice has resisted releasing the data despite a ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that the government must do so. Officials have cited concerns about the cost of producing the data and risks of breaching individuals’ privacy rights as reasons for withholding the information. Former Justice Secretary David Lammy had supported legal action to overturn the ICO ruling, further delaying publication.
In their joint letter, the victims' families stated that they have experienced profound loss and trauma due to violent and abusive crimes. They asserted that the public has a right to understand the impact of migration policies on crime rates and that releasing the data is in the public interest. They warned that continued withholding of the information may erode public trust and block the possibility of informed debate or effective policy responses.
Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, criticized the government for refusing to engage with victims, commending those affected for their courage and highlighting the necessity of public access to the data in order to address what he called a crisis.
The Ministry of Justice responded by reiterating its commitment to public safety and victim support, pointing to a record £550 million funding package allocated for services aiding victims of crime. However, officials did not provide a timetable or indication of when the contested data might be made public.