Britain’s immigration debate can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of economics, housing or public services, according to the Government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, who has warned that migration must increasingly be considered a matter of national security.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Jonathan Hall KC said recent violent incidents involving migrants had raised important questions about the wider impact immigration can have on social stability and public safety.
His comments follow the alleged attempted murder of a man in Belfast, an attack that sparked several nights of disorder and brought renewed scrutiny to the UK’s asylum and border systems.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place and making threats to kill following the attack on Stephen Ogilvie in north Belfast.
Mr Ogilvie suffered devastating injuries, including the loss of his left eye, serious damage to his right eye, deep cuts to his face and injuries to his back.
The incident led to unrest in parts of Belfast, with reports of violence, disorder and attacks on homes occupied by ethnic minority residents.
Mr Hall said the Belfast attack had been “extraordinarily destabilising” and demonstrated how individual acts of violence can have consequences far beyond the immediate victims.
He argued that national security is not simply about defending Britain from terrorism or hostile foreign powers, but also about maintaining a stable society in which people feel safe to go about their daily lives.
His intervention is significant because it comes from one of the country’s leading independent authorities on terrorism and national security legislation.
Mr Hall suggested that policymakers should be willing to discuss whether migration from certain parts of the world may present particular security challenges, especially where individuals have experienced war, conflict or extreme violence before arriving in Britain.
He noted that security agencies routinely consider exposure to violence when assessing potential risks posed by individuals returning from conflict zones, arguing that such factors cannot simply be ignored in wider immigration discussions.
The Belfast case has also raised questions about the operation of the asylum system.
According to reports, Alodid travelled from Sudan to France before moving to the Republic of Ireland and then travelling to Belfast in February 2023. He subsequently claimed asylum and was granted leave to remain in the UK later that year.
The case has fuelled concerns among critics who argue that Britain’s asylum system remains vulnerable to abuse and that greater scrutiny is needed of individuals arriving from overseas.
Mr Hall also pointed to growing international debate about the relationship between immigration and national security. He referenced concerns raised by the United States administration about the potential impact of large scale migration on social cohesion and national stability.
His comments come against a backdrop of record migration levels and increasing concern about crime and public safety.
Figures reported by The Telegraph, based on Ministry of Justice data obtained through Freedom of Information requests, show foreign nationals accounted for 14.1 per cent of sexual offence convictions in 2024.
The data indicates that convictions of foreign nationals for sexual offences rose by 62 per cent between 2021 and 2024. Over the same period, convictions of British nationals for similar offences increased by 39.3 per cent.
A similar trend was recorded for other crimes. Convictions of foreign nationals for theft rose by almost 78 per cent between 2021 and 2024, while robbery convictions increased by nearly 19 per cent.
The figures were obtained by the Centre for Migration Control, a think tank that has repeatedly called for tighter controls on immigration and asylum.
The debate comes as Britain continues to grapple with the consequences of historically high migration levels. Net migration reached a record 906,000 in 2023, while illegal Channel crossings have placed growing pressure on the asylum system and accommodation network.
For many voters, immigration has long been viewed primarily as an economic issue, affecting jobs, wages, housing and public services. Mr Hall’s intervention suggests that policymakers may increasingly be forced to confront a more difficult question, whether immigration should also be considered a matter of national security.
