To think an amnesty needs to be made asap for Grenfall residents

[brexitstolemyfuture]

Mayor Kahan supports this but government officials haven't granted it yet. Surely these people have been through enough without persecution for subletting or visa issues!

Why should the law be brushed aside because of a fire?

I see the two issues as entirely separate.

It's two separate issues, surely?

No. Illegally subletting council properties stinks and needs dealing with, although I wouldn't penalise the subletees. And if you are not legally entitled to live in the UK then having been unlucky enough to be caught up in the fire doesn't change that. I do think all affected should be given free medical care, food and (at least temporary) shelter though.

Where does it end? Forgive anyone of a crime because they've had a tragedy in their lives!
How serious can the crime be. It just wouldn't work, as others have said two events. In this case one isn't mitigation for the other.

LISTEN
NICK FERRARI
Sadiq Khan Backs Amnesty On Grenfell Tower Illegal Immigrants
22 June 2017, 07:15

The Mayor of London has called on the government to ensure any illegal immigrants who lived in Grenfell Tower to be protected.

Sadiq Khan Grenfell
4K

At least 79 people died after the 24-storey tower in West London caught fire last week.

One of the reasons for the authorities inability to get an accurate death toll is because some of the victims are too frightened to come forward and get help.

LBC's Senior Reporter Vincent McAviney explains: "Some of the residents are undocumented migrants or are people who were living in the tower illegally - and they're worried that is their status is looked into, they'll be prosecuted.

"The probelm with this is that without working out exactly who was inside, an acurate death toll can't be known and secondly, the people that did survive can't be rehoused or helped in any way."

Harrowing Footage Shows Devestation Inside Grenfell Tower
Harrowing Footage Shows Devestation Inside Grenfell Tower
00:02:34
Vincent has spent the last week in North Kensington speaking to residents and they told him some of the tenants were illegally subletting their properties or they had a new partner living with them but hadn't notified authorities as it might have affected their benefits.

One resident told him she knows of people in this situation: "They need immediate amnesty in terms of the law. Until that is forthcoming, the community of residents won't be reporting that those people are missing, they won't be reporting those people's needs.

"Unless everyone is completely sure that this will not get you into trouble with your immigration status, it's not going to get you into trouble with your landlord, it's not going to get you into trouble with your benefits, people aren't going to come forward."

Grenfell Tower memorial wall
Sadiq Khan has told LBC that he is backing a complete amnesty. He said: "No action must be taken against anybody in Grenfell Tower who comes forward.

"There may be some people who are sub-letting, breaching their tenancy agreement.

"There may be people who have got friends and family visiting, who they are worried about if they report them because they haven't got immigration status.

"All of those people should feel confident that if they come forward and speak to the authorities, that no action will be taken."

It's now down to the Government to confirm whether the Amnesty will be extended. Mayor Khan says he'll be pushing them on this in their disaster relief meetings.

Sorry that was a fail but SK says it better than I can.

To the original question in the OP.

No.

And the sooner KHAN is replaced as London Mayor, the better.

I agree with PP's, both issues are completely separate and need to be dealt with as such. The law cannot be ignored.

It's a toughie but we need to know who is still in that building. We can't just have 'unknown' remains being unclaimed, that's awful.

If someone has illegally let or swapped their council accommodation (therefore not there at the fire, nor homeless) will they be offered/request a new home regardless?

No.

No if they are illegal they should be dealt with by the authorities. Our country is already the target for migrants due to the perception of us being a soft touch.

Definitely not.

Yes. Of course.

No.

No.

Nope

These are extraordinarily awful circumstances and it seems very sad that people are so hard hearted they would rather see unnamed remains of people forever unnamed than identified by a one off amnesty.

Because this is so going to encourage other people to come to this country just in case they are lucky enough to be caught in a man made disaster and get a free pass......

No. Completely separate issues.
Illegally subletting exploits vulnerable people, the "landlords" make money out of this so an amnesty would send out entirely the wrong message.

Sadiq Khan has it absolutely right. We cannot have a situation where people are frightened to find out whether someone they love has died because they are worried about the consequences. Giving amnesty to what in practice will be in the region of 20-30 people, some of whom will be dead or very seriously injured, cannot set any dangerous precedents or harm our country in any way.

No, absolutely not. This hysteria is getting out of hand. It was a terrible tragedy, of course, but people die in fires every day in this country. Where is the handwringing for them? People die in road accidents. People die from illness. Where is the pop song for them?

My uncle's child has leukaemia so I guess I don't have to pay my council tax bill eh? Ridiculous.

No
I agree they should be treated sensitively but no amnesty

YANBU.
It is not a matter of "amnesty in exchange for a personal tragedy", as some pps are concerned about, and the case is so singular that I don't think concerns about "where will it end?" are unrealistic. It is not just a humane thing to do, but a pragmatic one: It is important to know who, and how many died in the fire. It is crucial to know the full facts of what happened. If amnesty for the residents in exchange for MINOR breaches of the law is the only way to get this truth, then of course it should be granted.

(And yes I do think that benefit fraud and illegal immigration are minor crimes compared to crimes like corporate manslaughter or negligence that leads to multiple deaths.)