Afghan migrant forced to wear GPS tag for 20 months

Man left 'stressed' by device fitted 'without explanation'

- HOLLY BANCROFT

An Afghan asylum seeker has spoken of the “constant stress” of being monitored with a GPS ankle tag for 20 months, seemingly without explanation from the authorities.

Lawyers challenged the government over why the migrant was still fitted with an electronic tag after a Home Office pilot to put them on asylum seekers was deemed unlawful. Its removal was finally ordered at the end of April after the Public Law Project (PLP) intervened, although the Home Office claims the pilot scheme ended in December.

MM, who has asked to remain anonymous, arrived in the UK by boat in June 2022 and was fitted with a tag after spending more than 60 days in immigration detention. He said that the electronic tag caused him to suffer depression, anxiety and stress due to fears that he would be punished if it was not charged.

MM said: “Being fitted with this tag has been a constant stress for more than a year and a half. I struggled with sleep because I had to keep the tag charged at all times, including at night, but it would often beep and wake me up.