The Centre for Migration Control (CMC) has accused the UK government of a cover-up for its continued legal efforts to block the release of crime statistics involving migrants. The organization, where Robert Bates serves as research director, has been attempting to obtain data on convictions for serious crimes, broken down by the nationality and visa status of offenders.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has appealed a ruling by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) that ordered the disclosure of this information. The MoJ's appeal cites a "remote risk" of foreign national offenders being identifiable and claims the cost of providing the data would be disproportionate, arguments the ICO previously rejected.
Recent high-profile cases, including the sentencing of asylum seekers for rape and an Afghan migrant for murder and assault, have intensified public concern over immigration and crime. Voters increasingly cite these issues as critical, yet official data to hold the government accountable has been scarce.
The CMC submitted a Freedom of Information request in June 2025 seeking conviction data from 2018 to 2024. While the MoJ acknowledged the public interest in the data, it initially refused the request. After internal appeals failed, the CMC lodged a complaint with the ICO in July 2025, which commenced an investigation in March of the following year.
In May, the ICO compelled the MoJ to provide the information through an "Information Notice." Following review, the ICO ruled that the MoJ had not demonstrated how an individual could be identified or that the cost of providing the data was disproportionate, ordering its disclosure. However, the government is now pursuing an appeal to the first-tier tribunal.
Other European nations, such as Denmark, regularly publish crime statistics by nationality and immigration status. In Denmark, while legally resident foreigners comprised 11% of the population in 2024, they accounted for 25% of murders and 26% of rapes, according to Statistics Denmark. In contrast, the UK lacks similar comprehensive reporting.
Calls from MPs, including Robert Jenrick of Reform UK, for an annual report detailing the nationality and visa status of convicted offenders have been resisted. Labour MPs previously voted down an amendment to the Sentencing Bill that would have mandated such reporting.
The CMC argues that access to this data is crucial for informing public debate and policy, including visa regulations and potential immigration bans from specific countries. The organization contends that the government's persistent efforts to withhold the information suggest a deliberate attempt to conceal its extent and consequences.