Wearing England badges during World Cup 'intimidating' to asylum seekers, immigration officers told

Wearing England badges during the World Cup could intimidate detained migrants, immigration officers have been told.

The Three Lions are set to start their World Cup campaign next week against Croatia.

Staff at detention centres have been warned in the lead-up to the event that wearing patriotic items may damage “professional standards.”

The report made by the Independent Monitoring Board says: “On two occasions during the summer, staff at one short-term holding facility were observed wearing England flags affixed to their uniforms.

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“The Board felt this risked perceptions of bias or even intimidation among detained people, especially in the light of recent anti-immigration protests in which flag displays were prominent.

“At a minimum, the Board concluded that this raised concerns about professional standards and workplace culture at the facility.”

The report highlights incidents that took place in 2025, which coincided with the lionesses maintaining their Euros crown with a win over Spain.

Migrants who have no right to remain in the country and are awaiting deportation stay in STHFs while they are being processed.

Alongside the warning against wearing flags, the report also highlighted concerns with routine handcuffing for transfers, excessive use of force, and lengthy stays in detention for migrants ahead of their deportations.

Jane Leech, the interim IMB national chair, told the Daily Mail: 'While [boards] do identify individual examples of good practice, these are unfortunately not reflected consistently across the system.

“We have seen patterns repeat, warnings ignored, and risks re-emerge in different forms.

“The evidence available to us strongly suggests that many of these longstanding issues are not only unresolved but are becoming more acute.

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“We repeatedly see health deteriorating in closed settings, delays in accessing medical care, rising distress, and vulnerable individuals becoming more unwell the longer detention continues.

“These are outcomes we observe directly, not theoretical risks.

“The Home Office must exercise stronger oversight and clearer accountability in how detention is used in practice.

“Without decisive action to address problems that have been evident for many years, people in immigration detention will continue to experience avoidable harm.”

The Prime Minister was asked about his thoughts on the St George's cross following a row over Operation Raise the Colours.

A spokesman said: “The PM has always talked about his pride in being British, his patriotism...patriotism will always be an important thing to him.

“We put up English flags all around Downing Street every time the English football team, women's and men's are out, trying to win games for us.”

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