Reform UK’s Home Affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, has announced the party’s intent to introduce “Polanski’s Law,” a policy designed to make aiding or abetting illegal entry into the United Kingdom a strict liability criminal offense.
The announcement comes as Reform UK fiercely criticizes telecommunications giant Vodafone for providing thousands of free SIM cards to migrants arriving via small boats across the English Channel.
The controversy stems from reports that Vodafone, through its charitable programs, supplied approximately 2,500 free SIM cards to Care for Calais. The refugee charity then distributed the cards primarily to occupants of the Wethersfield migrant camp in Essex .
In a recent broadcast interview, Yusuf characterized Vodafone’s actions as facilitating an “invasion of Britain” and endangering British women and girls . He stated that under the proposed Polanski’s Law, any action that assists illegal entry would require prosecutors to prove only that the action occurred, not that there was criminal intent .
Yusuf declared that if Reform UK were in government, such actions by a corporation would result in its entire board of directors being sent to jail . In the interim, Yusuf stated he has written to Vodafone’s board, threatening that a future Reform UK government would review all of the company’s public contracts and potentially revoke the visas of any foreign nationals serving on its board unless they cease the SIM card program immediately .
The segment also featured Chris Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation, who strongly pushed back against Yusuf’s characterization. Kandiah defended Vodafone as a “great British success story” and argued the company is simply showing humanity to vulnerable people who are already in the country . Kandiah stressed that the migrants require digital connectivity to manage their asylum hearings, communicate with the government, and access essential services . He also noted that Vodafone’s charitable SIM program extends to other vulnerable groups, including survivors of domestic abuse .
Following the debate, the broadcaster read statements from the organizations involved. A Vodafone spokesperson clarified that their program provides mobile SIMs to registered UK charities, under strict criteria, for distribution to vulnerable people, with all calls and data restricted to UK use only . A Care for Calais spokesperson refuted social media claims that they distribute SIMs in France, emphasizing that the cards are given to people already claiming asylum in the UK who need to contact family and access support.
