London's hidden population

The problem with reliance on government sources

The indicators on this site use official statistics collected through government sources. The data does not allow consideration of very local differences in London or of the differences within broad ethnic or national categories. Moreover, while official statistics can give a good picture of London life for most of its population, some groups are not covered at all.

Undocumented migrants

For instance, the ONS estimates that there were between 300,000 and 570,000 undocumented migrants in the UK in 2005 – people who do not have a settled UK immigration status. It is believed that most have overstayed on visas rather than having entered the country illegally but this is not known.

The Greater London Authority estimates that 380,000 undocumented migrants live in London, representing about 5% of its population. A survey by the Home Office of illegally resident detainees found that most had lived for at least some time in London, and two-fifths had never spent any time outside the capital. Though this was based on a small sample, it seems likely that most undocumented migrants will have spent some time in London as it is the main port of arrival from overseas. As such, they add to the churning of London's population, especially in boroughs near the main airports.

Many undocumented migrants are likely to be in poverty, but are unlikely to be included in official figures. While it is not impossible for them to find work, such work is almost inevitably low paid. Without documentation, it is difficult to get a bank account, which itself is often a barrier to work. They are not entitled to benefits and are excluded from most services such as health care and social housing.

There is growing support in London for an 'earned amnesty' for undocumented migrants. One recent proposal would allow migrants without leave to remain who have lived in the UK for at least four years to begin a 'pathway to citizenship', allowing them to become fully documented UK citizens, with full rights to work. This idea was supported by all the main candidates for the 2008 London Mayoral elections, including the then Mayor Ken Livingstone and the current Mayor Boris Johnson.

Given that undocumented migrants are by definition a hard-to-reach group, there is a real need for research to establish the size of the population and the extent of the problems they face. A report for the GLA by the London School of Economics, and work for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation by City University and the Working Lives Research Institute at London Metropolitan University, will help to fill this gap.

Trust for London also commissioned Queen Mary University of London to undertake research into the Latin American community in London, many of whom are believed to be undocumented. The report is available from Trust for London.

You can read case studies of two undocumented migrants in London: Kenan and 'Thompson'.

Asylum Seekers

Even within the documented population, there are groups who live at the margins. The GLA estimated that about 500,000 people in London had applied for UK asylum in the previous 15 years. Of these about half have refugee status, making up about 3-4% of London's resident population. The remaining half are either awaiting a decision or have been rejected for asylum. Those without status are not allowed to work in the UK without special dispensation, so they make up a particularly vulnerable group.

Informal Economy

Those without permission to work may find employment in the informal economy, working cash-in-hand for low wages. Community Links, a voluntary organisation based in Newham, carried out research into the experiences of those working for cash-in-hand, often while claiming benefits. They found that such work was often seen as the only available response to poverty. This initial research has been the starting point for a campaign to help people move into the formal economy.

Sexuality and Poverty

Research in both the UK and US suggests that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community represents about 7% of the population. In London, where greater numbers of LGBT people are believed to migrate in search of community and safety, this figure is likely to be higher. However, an accurate figure is problematic because of London's churning population and because LGBT people may not choose to disclose their sexuality for fear of prejudice and discrimination.

Data is not routinely collected about sexuality, so this website does not show patterns of poverty among London's LGBT population. However, research suggests that LGBT people can experience significant discrimination and exclusion in relation to health, employment, training, crime and housing, which are all related to poverty.

More information from:
Stonewall
Kairos in Soho
Galop
The Gender Trust

Sources

Institute for Public Policy Research (2006) Irregular Migration in the UK, An IPPR FactFile

Black, R., Collyer, M., Skeldon, R., Waddington, C (2005) A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, University of Sussex Centre for Migration Research, Home Office

Travers, T., Tunstall, R., Whitehead, C., Pruvot, S (2007) Population mobility and service provision, LSE

Datta, K (2007) Money matters: Exploring financial exclusion among low paid migrant workers in London, Queen Mary, University of London

Greater London Assembly (2007) London Enriched: The Mayor's Draft Strategy For Refugee Integration in London

Indicator last updated: 18 October 2011