Do not let refugee scheme become Tinder for sex traffickers, PM urged

Boris Johnson has defended the speed of offering refuge to those fleeing Ukraine after he was warned of the danger of schemes turning into "Tinder for sex traffickers".

The Prime Minister said it was important that "checks both ways" were being carried out before Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK, both to ensure those in need were who they said they were, and also that those offering help were fit to do so.

Appearing in front of the Commons Liaison Committee, Mr Johnson said there had already been cases of "people coming from that war zone who may not be entirely who they say they are" after it was revealed just 2,700 visas have been granted to people wanting to come to the UK under the Homes For Ukraine scheme despite applications reaching 28,300.

The UN refugee agency said four million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its war on February 24.

Meanwhile, a charity which has helped about 70 Ukrainian refugees apply for UK visas said none have been approved in the 13 days since the sponsorship scheme opened.

Volunteers for Love Bristol, which is operating in Poland, said so far everyone they have helped is still waiting.

The PM said he was not going to berate civil servants and officials and "blame people for being slow" as he said they have to "balance some quite difficult objectives".

Mr Johnson said: "What I wanted was a system that was as light touch as possible and would enable people to come here, but would enable us also to do checks.

"We are outside the Schengen system, we have the advantage of being able to clarify people's status, (that) they're bona fide – that's not a bad thing if you want to have a programme that really works and commands confidence."

Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Committee, told Mr Johnson that some anti-slavery and refugee groups had warned that the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship "risked operating as Tinder for sex traffickers".

He said :" that is one of the reasons why it is important to have as light touch as possible, but to have DBS checks both ways to make sure we have a programmethat is really working ."