Police forces across the UK should limit the data they share with immigration enforcement about vulnerable victims of crime such as domestic abuse, a new report has urged.

An investigation by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the College of Policing (CoP), and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that victims of crime with insecure or uncertain immigration status are scared that if they report crimes their information will be shared with the Home Office.

The probe revealed that the current system is "causing significant harm" to public interest.

The report was launched after a policing super-complaint, submitted by Liberty and Southall Black Sisters, about the practice of the police sharing of victims’ immigration information.

“Victims should have every confidence in approaching the police for protection,” said HM chief inspector of constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor. “They should expect and receive protection at times when they are vulnerable and so desperately need the assistance of the agents of the state.

“Victims should never be in a position where they fear the actions of the police could unintentionally but severely intensify their vulnerability and thereby strengthen the hands of organised criminals and others whose motives and objectives are to inspire fear and do them harm.”

The investigation’s recommendations include:

• where officers only have concerns or doubts about a domestic abuse victim’s immigration status, they should immediately stop sharing with Immigration Enforcement information on those victims;

• the Home Office should review the relevant legal framework and policy to establish sound and fair priorities regarding migrant victims of crime and migrant witnesses to crime, with insecure or uncertain immigration status;

• the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council should develop a safeguarding protocol about the police approach to migrant victims and witnesses of crime; and

• the police should establish safe reporting pathways for all migrant victims and witnesses to crime.

"The report found that policing is committed to investigating crimes that affect vulnerable people and seeks to make victims safer," said Mike Cunningham, chief executive of the College of Policing. “Unfortunately, the lack of clarity about the circumstances in which information will be shared with Immigration Enforcement may lead to fear among victims who have insecure or uncertain immigration status, usually because they entered the UK on a spousal visa or work permit, that they will be investigated for immigration offences.

"This can dissuade victims from reporting to police, stopping them from getting the support and protection they need, but also enabling abusers to continue their behaviour unchallenged."

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