Tag Archives: Deportation

Charter flight to Zimbabwe: how a potential deportee obtained a stay of removal

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Alarmingly, enforced deportations to Zimbabwe by charter flight are fast becoming a regular occurrence.

The last such flights to Zimbabwe followed one after the other, in July and August 2021.

Another charter flight is expected to be enroute to Zimbabwe on 2nd March 2022.

2 March 2022 marks a day where:

  • several British children will be ripped apart from a parent
  • emotional bonds will be broken, some forever
  • wives and partners will abruptly find themselves raising young children as sole parents

individuals who have lived here for 20 or more years will be herded onto a plane and dumped at the airport in Harare, without jobs, no means to fend for themselves and facing possible destitution in an impoverished country that is plagued by severe economic challenges coupled with incessant political conflict.

Common questions usually asked at times such as these, include:

  • why is a person with British children and a partner being deported, surely he should be allowed to stay in the UK?
  • why deport a person who has lived in the UK for more than 20years years?

The answer lies in ascertaining provisions of the law that apply to persons who fall to be defined as “foreign criminals”.  Such persons fall for consideration under harsh Immigration Rules subject to a high threshold. This has the result that some human rights claims placing reliance on a family life with British children and partners, may at times fail before the Home Office, the Tribunal and higher courts. The consequence is that an affected person may be deported leaving young British children behind in the UK.

“Foreign criminals” and deportation

In relation to automatic deportation, Section 32(5) of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides that the Secretary of State must make a deportation order in respect of a foreign criminal (subject to the exceptions in section 33).

Section 32 defines a “foreign criminal” as a person:

  • who is not a British citizen or an Irish citizen
  • who is convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence, and
  • to whom Condition 1 or 2 applies.

Condition 1 is that the person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months.

Condition 2 is that:

  • the offence is specified by order of the Secretary of State under relevant provisions and
  • the person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

Section 33 of the 2007 Act provides the exceptions to automatic deportation. Most commonly, reliance is placed on Exception 1 where a person argues his removal in pursuance of the deportation order would breach his:

  • ECHR Convention rights, or
  • the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.

Where a person referred for deportation consideration does not meet the criteria for deportation under the 2007 Act, consideration is given to whether deportation should be pursued under the 1971 Act on the ground it is conducive to the public good.

Section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 provides for the Secretary of State to make a deportation order on the basis their deportation is conducive to the public good. This gives the Secretary of State discretion to act in a way that reflects the public interest.

Part 5 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by the Immigration Act 2014, applies where a court or tribunal is required to determine whether a decision made under the Immigration Acts:

  • breaches a person’s right to respect for private and family life under Article 8, and
  • as a result, would be unlawful under section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

For these purposes, foreign criminal is defined at Section 117D of the 2002 Act:

A “foreign criminal” means a person—

  • who is not a British citizen,
  • who has been convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence, and

who:

  • has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months,
  • has been convicted of an offence that has caused serious harm, or
  • is a persistent offender

Section 117(C)of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, states that the deportation of foreign criminals is in the public interest. The more serious the offence committed by a foreign criminal, the greater is the public interest in deportation of the criminal.

The exceptions to deportation and the very compelling circumstances test

Where a person claims that their deportation would be contrary to the UK’s obligations under Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, they may seek to resist deportation on the basis that they meet the family life exceptions to deportation, ie – place reliance upon a family life with a qualifying child and/or reliance on a qualifying partner.

Paragraph 398 of the Immigration Rules sets out the criminality thresholds. An Article 8 claim from a foreign criminal who has not been sentenced to at least 4 years’ imprisonment will succeed if the requirements of an exception to deportation are met. The exceptions to deportation on the basis of family life are set out at Paragraph 399 of the Immigration Rules, and the exception on the basis of private life is at Paragraph 399A.

Paragraphs 398 to 399A of the Immigration Rules set out when a foreign criminal’s private and/or family life will outweigh the public interest in deporting them.

Family life exception to deportation- family life with a qualifying child:

Paragraph 399 (a) of the Immigration Rules applies if:

The person has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a child under the age of 18 years who is in the UK and:

(i) the child is a British Citizen; or

(ii) the child has lived in the UK continuously for at least the 7 years immediately preceding the date of the immigration decision; and in either case:

  • it would be unduly harsh for the child to live in the country to which the person is to be deported; and
  • it would be unduly harsh for the child to remain in the UK without the person who is to be deported

Section 117C(5) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by the Immigration Act 2014, contains similar provisions however not in as much detail as the above Immigration Rule.

Family life exception to deportation – family life with a qualifying partner:

Paragraph 399(b) applies if the person has a genuine and subsisting relationship with a partner who is in the UK and is a British Citizen or settled in the UK, and

  • the relationship was formed at a time when the person (deportee) was in the UK lawfully and their immigration status was not precarious; and
  • it would be unduly harsh for that partner to live in the country to which the person is to be deported, because of compelling circumstances over and above those described in paragraph EX.2. of Appendix FM; and
  • it would be unduly harsh for that partner to remain in the UK without the person who is to be deported.

Section 117C(5) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by the Immigration Act 2014, contains similar provisions however not in as much detail as the  above Immigration Rule.

Private life exception to deportation:

A person can resist deportation on the basis that Paragraph 399A of the Immigration Rules applies to their case.

Paragraph 399Aapplies if:

  • the person has been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life; and
  • he is socially and culturally integrated in the UK; and
  • there would be very significant obstacles to his integration into the country to which it is proposed he is deported.

Section 117C(4) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by the Immigration Act 2014, contains similar provisions.

Very compelling circumstances:

An Article 8 claim from a foreign criminal who has been sentenced to at least 4 years’ imprisonment will only succeed where there are very compelling circumstances over and above the circumstances described in the exceptions to deportation at paragraphs 399 and 399A.

Paragraph 398 provides that in such circumstances, the public interest in deportation will only be outweighed by other factors where there are very compelling circumstances over and above those described in paragraphs 399 and 399A.

Section 117C(6) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by the Immigration Act 2014, contains similar provisions.

Why some claims submitted by “foreign criminals” fail:

At first glance, the above provisions seem fairly “easy” to satisfy however they have generated much caselaw in the Upper Tribunal and higher courts in seeking to interpret, for example, what is meant by:

  • unduly harsh
  • very significant obstacles to integration
  • very compelling circumstances

Where the Home office, the Tribunal or higher courts conclude on the facts of a case and by reference to the evidence provided that the threshold in the unduly harsh test or very compelling circumstances test is not met, a claim based on private and family life provisions may ultimately fail, leading to a person’s deportation.

A “standardised” Home Office refusal decision in relation to human rights claims raised by foreign criminals usually raises the following as a basis of refusal:

  • the applicant has not demonstrated that he has a genuine and subsisting relationship with his child.
  • the applicant has not met the requirements of the exception to deportation on the basis of family life with a child in accordance with paragraph 399(a).
  • the applicant is not in a genuine and subsisting relationship with his claimed Partner and it is concluded that he does not meet the requirements of the exception to deportation on the basis of family life with a partner.
  • even if the evidence is taken at its highest and it is assumed that the applicant has a genuine and subsisting relationship with his child, it is considered that he has not sufficiently demonstrated that it would be unduly harsh for his child to live in Zimbabwe with him and that it would be unduly harsh for his child to remain in the UK whilst he is returned to Zimbabwe.
  • It is acknowledged that the standard of living may be lower in Zimbabwe in comparison to the UK, however, the applicant’s assertion is speculative and does not mean it would be unduly harsh to expect his child to live with him in Zimbabwe.
  • The applicant is a Zimbabwean national and as such is accustomed to the lifestyle and culture in Zimbabwe.
  • The applicant will be able to support his child and ease his integration to life in Zimbabwe. It is noted that the child is 5 years old, and although he may be accustomed to life in the UK, it is considered that he is at an age where it would be easier for him to adapt to life in Zimbabwe, especially with the support of his parents.
  • Alternatively, the applicant’s child can remain in the UK with his mother whilst the applicant is returned to Zimbabwe.
  • It is asserted that the applicant’s child will be severely affected if he is separated from his father. It is reasonable to assume that the absence of the applicant would have some effect on the partner and their child, however, this is not sufficient to constitute as unduly harsh. There is no indication that the partner and their child are financially dependant on the applicant, nor is there any evidence to demonstrate that the applicant’s presence is required in the UK to support the partner and their son.
  • the difficulty that arises, especially where there is a shift to being a sole parent is acknowledged, however, as the partner is British/ has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK she has access to the required additional support available to support single parents, especially single mothers. It is considered that the partner would be able to take care of and support their son whilst the applicant returns to Zimbabwe. The applicant would still be able to maintain contact with his son via modern means of communication and with support from his mother could organise for his son to visit him in Zimbabwe or elsewhere (outside of the UK).
  • In relation to the applicant’s established family life with his partner, it remains that the relationship between the applicant and his partner started when the applicant did not have any lawful leave to remain in the UK. As specified in paragraph 399(b)(i) a relationship will only qualify where it is formed ‘at a time when the person (deportee) was in the UK lawfully and their immigration status was not precarious’.
  • In relation to the applicant’s private life, it remains that the applicant has not been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life or even 20 years.
  • In addition, it is considered that the applicant has demonstrated a resourceful attitude in the face of adversity in a new country he had no prior knowledge of, therefore he can use this gained knowledge and skills in a country he has spent his formative years in.
  • The applicant put forward evidence to show the socio-economic conditions in Zimbabwe, however, he did not provide any substantial evidence or information to demonstrate that he would be destitute upon his return to Zimbabwe as required in the case of MA (Prove Destitution). Whilst it is acknowledged that the applicant may find life challenging upon his return to Zimbabwe due to not having been there for some time and the standard of living not being on the same level as the UK, this does not establish that there would be very significant obstacles to the applicant’s integration in Zimbabwe
  • In order to outweigh the public interest in deporting the applicant, he would need to provide evidence of a very strong Article 8 claim over and above the circumstances described in the exceptions to deportation. He has provided no such evidence. Therefore, having considered the facts of the applicant’s case, it is not accepted that there are very compelling circumstances which outweigh the public interest in seeing him deported.
  • Therefore, for the reasons above it is not accepted that there is a real risk that the applicant’s removal from the United Kingdom would breach Article 8 of the ECHR.

2 March 2022 Removal Directions: Injunction granted by Upper Tribunal Judge against removal to Zimbabwe

The applicant was unexpectedly detained on 22 February 2022 at his family home during an enforcement visit.

Amongst other documents, he was served with a Factual Immigration Summary, removal directions for 2 March 2022 to Zimbabwe and a letter stating: “For the avoidance of doubt, if the Home Office concludes that removal should proceed in your case notwithstanding any further representations, and/or an application for judicial review, your removal from the United Kingdom will only be suspended on the Order or Directions of the Court”.

The applicant formally instructed me on 23 February 2022. On the same day, a request was made to Home Office FNO Leeds to provide the Tribunal decision of 2016 and other key documentation such as the deportation order- the applicant no longer had these documents on being detained.

The Home Office provided the documents on 24 February 2022 in the morning,

In the evening, 24 February 2022, the applicant with my assistance, submitted an application to revoke the deportation order that had been issued a few years ago.  Representations were  prepared and submitted along with supportive documentation including his partner’s statement.

Considered to be a persistent offender, the applicant had fallen subject to deportation proceedings in 2016. His appeal failed in 2016 before the Tribunal.

At the time of detention on 22 February 2022 the applicant however now had a British child with his long-term Zimbabwean partner who holds refugee protection settlement.

The representations of 24 February 2022 put the Secretary of State on notice that where an in- country right of appeal was not provided in the event of a refusal or where removal directions were not deferred/cancelled, an urgent application for judicial review would be commenced.

The 24th  February 2022 application was refused on Saturday, 26 February 2022 with no right of appeal. The format of the refusal decision followed that as set out above.  Removal was not deferred.  No right of appeal was provided.

On the same day,  Saturday, 26th February, Counsel was approached to consider the case and prepare grounds of claim. Having considered the provided papers, she promptly identified grounds of claim and advised accordingly.

The judicial review claim was filed in the Upper Tribunal by email just before 5pm on Monday, 28 February 2022.  An urgent application for a stay of the removal of 2 March 2022 was included, with a request to make a decision on the urgent application within a matter of hours.

In the morning of Monday, 1st March 2022, the Upper Tribunal issued the sealed claim form.  The applicant’s Bundle was served upon the Secretary of State along with the sealed claim form.

A few hours later at noon, 1st  March 2022, the application for a stay of removal was granted by an Upper Tribunal Judge with the applicant not to be removed to Zimbabwe pending the outcome of the application for judicial review or until further order.

The stay order was emailed to the Secretary of State requesting written confirmation that the removal directions of 2 March 2022 be cancelled.

At 2.38pm on 1st March 2022, the Home Office sent a letter confirming the removal directions set for 2 March 2022 had been cancelled.

Conclusion

Each case is different.

Cases involving deportation are complex.

Due to the imminent time factors that apply in cases such as these, it is important however to put forward a claim as effectively as possible and not allow valuable time to slip by in cases where it becomes evident that an application for judicial review, with an urgent stay of removal application will need to be made to the Upper Tribunal.

 

Instructed Counsel:

Shivani Jegarajah

Justitia Chambers

 

Court of Appeal’s unrelenting and stinging criticism of the Upper Tribunal: foreign criminal HAD established very significant obstacles to reintegration

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“It seems to me that the UT judge strayed from his task and in doing so failed to take account of the fact that the FTT judge had had the benefit of hearing both the Appellant and his mother give evidence and had reached a broad evaluation decision. Instead of determining whether the FTT judge’s decision was irrational, the UT judge embarked upon making the decision himself, took account of matters which had not featured before the FTT and allowed himself to speculate about the Appellant”,  so concluded the Court of Appeal in  Lowe v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWCA Civ 62 (25 January 2021), when considering the appeal of a Jamaican national who was born in 1999 and had come to the UK when he was 3years of age.

The Upper Tribunal irked the Court of Appeal by impermissibly setting aside a First Tier Tribunal Judge’s decision which found that the Appellant fell within the “private life exception to deportation”  set out in paragraph  399A of the Immigration Rules, such that he should not be deported to Jamaica.

What gave rise to deportation proceedings?

The Appellant, who had held indefinite leave to remain in the UK,  became subject to a deportation order because of a criminal conviction.  On 29 September 2017, he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug of Class A (crack cocaine), with intent to supply, and to possession of a bladed article (a knife) in a public place. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 2 years and 4 months for the drugs offence, with no separate penalty being imposed for possession of the knife.

What the Appellant had to show to resist deportation

The relevant provisions of the Immigration Rules and of primary legislation considered in the determination of claims by foreign criminals that their deportation would be contrary to Article 8 of the ECHR, are paragraphs 398 and 399A of the Immigration Rules and section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

In order to successfully resist deportation on the facts of his case by reference to the provisions, the Appellant had to show that:

  1. he had been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life, and
  2. he was socially and culturally integrated in the UK, and
  3. there would be very significant obstacles to the foreign criminal’s integration into the country to which he is proposed to be deported

During the course of the appeal the Secretary of State accepted that (a) and (b)  was satisfied in the Appellant’s case but not (c).

As identified by the Court of Appeal {11}: “The battleground for that appeal was the Appellant’s contest to the points raised in the Respondent’s decision letter as to whether there were very significant obstacles to integration”.

The basis upon which the First Tier Tribunal Judge allowed the Appellant’s appeal

The First Tier Tribunal ( the FTT)  allowed the Appellant’s appeal from the decision of 1 August 2018 of the Secretary of State refusing his human rights claim, raised in resistance to a deportation order made against him on 30 October 2017.

It had been stated by the Secretary of State that the Appellant failed to satisfy the requirement that there should be “very significant obstacles” to integration because the Appellant’s father and extended family were still in Jamaica and available to support him.

The FTT found and concluded as follows in his decision, amongst other matters:

  • the Appellant had lived in the UK since the age of three.
  • the Appellant’s father resided in the UK and had done since in or around 1997/98.
  • the Appellant’s father left Jamaica approximately 20 years ago and had formed family units within the UK.
  • the Appellant’s mother had been absent from Jamaica for 16 years and left family and other connections she had within Jamaica due to abuse; accordingly, she was unlikely to have maintained contact; the Appellant’s mother and siblings had relocated to America.
  • on the evidence the FTT Judge found that the Appellant did not have family or other connections in Jamaica.
  • the Appellant met the Exception 1 (section 1117C(4) of the [Nationality, Immigration and Asylum] Act 2002 and reflected in Paragraph 399A of the Immigration Rules).
  • the Secretary of State was noted to have accepted that the Appellant had been lawfully resident within the UK the majority of his life and that he was socially and culturally integrated into the UK withstanding his offending.
  • It was accepted by the FTT Judge that the Appellant spoke English which is one of the official languages of Jamaica. Also accepted was that  the Appellant was a young healthy man of working age who is educated.
  • However, the FTT Judge concluded that Appellant had grown up in, been educated in and spent his whole adult life to date in the UK. It was that length of time in the UK; that lack of any family or support in Jamaica; the Appellant never having lived an independent life away from either of his parents or state institutions and a lack of financial support which would allow the Appellant to seek basic necessities such as accommodation which presented significant obstacles to his integration into Jamaica.
  • The FTT Judge accepted that there was a significant public interest in the deportation of foreign criminals, however, concluded that for the reasons he had given, Exception 1 to deportation was met and the public interest did not require the Appellant’s deportation. The Secretary of State’s decision to deport the Appellant was a disproportionate interference when weighed against his family and private life in the UK.

Why the Upper Tribunal set aside the First Tier Tribunal’s decision

On 10 April 2019, UT Judge Perkins in the  Upper Tribunal allowed the appeal of the Secretary of State against the FTT decision and sought to reason as follows:

  • The UT found that the “very significant obstacles” exception was only met in “strong circumstances” and that those circumstances were not “identified in the evidence” in the present case
  • The Appellant had not produced any evidence that showed he had made any real attempt to sort out how he might live in Jamaica. The UT had been told nothing about employment difficulties or opportunities or how the Appellant might or might not be able to obtain accommodation. The evidence was silent about these findings.
  • Given that the Appellant had sufficient wit (albeit of a thoroughly discreditable kind) to be part of a drug ring enterprise, the UT could not accept that he could be regarded a helpless babe.
  • Neither could the UT accept in the absence of clear evidence, that a person who had been locked up for whatever is necessary in a sentence of two years and four months, had not learned some street wisdom of a kind that would assist him.
  • The UT could see many things that would be difficult for him in Jamaica, or which could be expected to be difficult but could not see anything that  would describe properly as a “very significant obstacle”.

Court of Appeal’s conclusions that the First Tier Tribunal Judge’s decision was open to him

  • The FTT had decided the case on the basis of the case made by the Secretary of State, in the light of the evidence presented by the Appellant in support of his claim, in the decision letter and in argument. Having rejected that case, on the evidence, it was right for the FTT to allow the appeal.
  • What mattered was whether the FTT Judge was entitled to find, on the evidence thathe had seen and heard, and which the UT had not, and on the case made against him, that the Appellant, a young man with his characteristics and background, would face very significant obstacles to integration in Jamaica.
  • The Secretary of State had clearly been working under a significant and serious misapprehension, in the context of the case, in assuming that the Appellant had a father and extended family in Jamaica. The Secretary of State was wrong about that and the objection to the Appellant’s human rights claim on that basis had been rejected by the FTT.
  • As Kamara v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] 4 WLR 152 {14} shows, decisions of the present character made by the fact finding tribunal are “broad evaluative decisions”.
  • In Fage UK Ltd. v Chobani UK Ltd.[2014] EWCA Civ 5 at [114] – [115], Lewison LJ explained the caution to be exercised by appellate courts in interfering with evaluative decisions of first instance judges.
  • In this case, the FTT had determined the issues that were before it, being those which were regarded as being central to the question of whether the Appellant had demonstrated the relevant “very significant obstacles”. It was not necessary for the FTT to deal with a case that was not being made by the Secretary of State. As per Fage UK Ltd. v Chobani UK Ltd.[2014] EWCA Civ 5 the appeal to the FTT was “the first and last night of the show”, not a “dress rehearsal”.
  • The Court of Appeal in Lowe, observed that it is to be recalled that judgments at first instance are necessarily an incomplete impression made upon the judge by the primary evidence. The FTT judge reached the conclusion that he did on the issues raised and he expressed himself succinctly on them.
  • The Court of Appeal considered that it was quite open to the FTT judge to find that there were the necessary very significant obstacles based on the impression made upon him as to the effect of the “exile” of thisyoung man, with all his characteristics, attributes, qualities and defects that were disclosed by the evidence. Not every healthy young man, in a case such as this, would make the same impression. However, this was a 19 year old with a conviction, when he appeared before the FTT. He had lived for all but the first three years of his life in the UK and had no connection to Jamaica whatsoever other than a residual nationality. The  FTT Judge found that he had a specific dependency on his parents.
  • The Court of Appeal concluded that the  FTT Judge was entitled to form his own impression of the obstacles the Appellant would face on being dumped in Jamaica at the end of the prison term. He was not an adult foreign criminal, with a significant foundation of knowledge of the country of his birth from an earlier time in life, and who was being returned to a country with which he had some acquaintance. It was not surprising to that a judge (if not all judges) would find, as the FTT Judge did, that there were very significant obstacles to integration. Others might have made a different decision, but this was very much a case on its own facts to be assessed on the evidence.

Court of Appeal’s stinging criticism of the Upper Tribunal’s approach

In relation to the Upper Tribunal’s approach in setting aside the FTT Judge’s decision, the Court of Appeal concluded :

  • The UT was wrong to hold that the decision of the FTT was irrational.
  • The UT was wrong in substituting its own assessment of whether there were “very significant obstacles” to the Appellant’s integration into Jamaica after deportation for that of the FTT.
  • The UT correctly determined that this was a case of exile rather than deportation: in spite of the Appellant being a national of Jamaica, he had no past experience of any meaningful kind.
  • The UT re-assessed the case for itself and raised arguments against the Appellant which did not appear to have played any part at all in the Secretary of State’s original decision or in the Secretary of State ‘s case before the FTT.
  • It had not been suggested by the Secretary of State in the decision letter, or before the FTT, that the Appellant should have been making his own enquiries or adducing evidence before the FTT about accommodation and/or employment in Jamaica in order to satisfy the statutory burden upon him.
  • It was not for the UT to assess the Appellant’s “wit” in the light of his “part in a drug ring enterprise” or to speculate whether he could be regarded as a “helpless babe” that “had not learned some street wisdom of a kind that would assist him” from his period in custody.
  • The UT went outside its function in remaking the decision on the facts, on the basis of the written materials alone and without sufficient reference to the issues that were raised before the FTT and whether the FTT had been entitled to find as it did on those issues.
  • The UT impermissibly substituted own assessment of the case, without having heard the evidence and without the resultant important opportunity to assess the Appellant personally in the face of the statutory test.
  • The UT also raised issues against the Appellant that had formed no part of the case being made against him by the Secretary of State  either in the original decision, against which the appeal to the FTT was brought, or before the FTT itself.
  • The UT judge went on to make the decision afresh and to take into account matters which had not featured before the FTT at all.
  • The UT judge allowed himself to speculate about the Appellant and to bolster that impermissible speculation by reliance upon a perceived lack of evidence to the contrary. It was that impermissible speculation which led, in part, to his decision.

The Court of Appeal’s decision

The Court of Appeal allowed the Appellant’s appeal.

The decision of the Upper Tribunal dated 10 April 2019 was set aside and the decision of the First Tier Tribunal dated 17 December 2018 was restored.

Court of Appeal considers whether a historic unexercised entitlement to British citizenship is sufficient to resist deportation

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The value of Akinyemi v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 236 (04 April 2017) is the consideration by the Court of Appeal  of an appeal by a 33year old man who had been born in the UK; had long  missed out on an opportunity  of acquiring British citizenship  and was now subject to deportation proceedings having accrued a lengthy criminal record in the UK.  Could  the fact that he  been  entitled to acquire British  citizenship  over the past years but failed to avail himself of the appropriate avenues, be sufficient to enable him to successfully resist deportation?  Could his presence in the UK be regarded as unlawful or precarious? Could the fact that  the Appellant  had  only ever lived in the UK all his life be sufficient to resist deportation? Is the  absence of connections with the country of return, a trump card? What is the effect of  serious and persistent offending?

 

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EEA Deportations: Enhanced Levels of Protection And Periods of Activity, Residence and Imprisonment

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The Court of  Appeal’s  recent decisions in Warsame v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWCA Civ 16 and Secretary of State for the Home Department v Vassallo [2016] EWCA Civ 13  considered the circumstances in  which reliance can be  placed upon   enhanced levels of protection provided within the Citizen’s Directive  in relation to expulsion of   EEA nationals  subject to deportation proceedings.

The central question in Vassallo was  whether the Tribunal was  correct in law to find that Mr Vassallo had acquired a right of permanent residence.  The  Court of Appeal  having   full regard to the  Citizen’s Directive,  relevant  CJEU caselaw and  the 2006 EEA Regulations,  decided  that having regard to the  character of the  EEA national’s  residence in the UK,  after a historical  accrual of  the requisite 5years,  and despite Mr Vassalo having  resided  in the  UK  for  over 50years,  no  right of permanent residence  could be relied upon.

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Home Office Attempt to Subvert the EEA Legislative Scheme Fails: EEA Permanent Residence Not Lost By Reason of Criminality or Imprisonment

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The Home Office have recently been on a downward streak  in  the Court of Appeal  in terms of issues in relation  to EEA law and in particular EEA deportations.

Read my post regarding the recent judgments from the Court of Appeal on the issue in the cases of:

  • Agho v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWCA Civ 1198
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department v Straszewski [2015] EWCA Civ 1245
  • AA (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWCA Civ 1249

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Paragraph 399 of the Immigration Rules and Section 117 of the 2002 Act- Will the Upper Tribunal Judges Ever Be Agreed As to The Meaning of “Unduly Harsh”?

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Upper Tribunal Judges appear within the last few months   to  be publicly   struggling with the   proper meaning of  the phrase “unduly harsh”  found in  paragraph  399(a) of the  Immigration Rules.  The same words are  also found in Section 117C(5)  of the 2002 Act where the proposed deportee has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a qualifying child and the effect of his deportation on the child would be “unduly harsh.

It was noted in KMO (section 117 – unduly harsh) Nigeria [2015] UKUT 543 (IAC) that there  is no tension in the fact that there is an area of overlap between Sections 117C(4)&(5)  of the 2002 Act and paragraph  399 of the Immigration Rules. When Section 117 was brought into effect, the vocabulary of paragraph  399 was different, speaking not of undue harshness but of reasonableness. The Rule was noted to have been  amended to reflect the vocabulary of the statute and so the assessment now carried out under the rules is compliant with the requirements of the statutory provision.

The Upper Tribunal in  MAB (para 399; “unduly harsh”) USA [2015] UKUT 435 (IAC) decided that the phrase “unduly harsh” in paragraph  399 of the Rules (and Section 117C(5) of the 2002 Act) does not import a balancing exercise requiring the public interest to be weighed against the circumstances of the individual (whether child or partner of the deportee). The focus is solely upon an evaluation of the consequences and impact upon the individual concerned.  Whether the consequences of deportation will be “unduly harsh” for an individual involves more than “uncomfortable, inconvenient, undesirable, unwelcome or merely difficult and challenging” consequences and imposes a considerably more elevated or higher threshold.  The consequences for an individual will be “harsh” if they are “severe” or “bleak” and they will be “unduly” so if they are ‘inordinately’ or ‘excessively’ harsh taking into account of all the circumstances of the individual.

.The Upper Tribunal in KMO (section 117 – unduly harsh) Nigeria [2015] UKUT 543 (IAC), differed  from the view taken by the Tribunal in MAB.

In KMO , the Upper Tribunal considered that the Immigration Rules, when applied in the context of the deportation of a foreign criminal, are a complete code. Where an assessment is required to be made as to whether a person meets the requirements of paragraph  399 of the Immigration Rules, as that comprises an assessment of that person’s claim under article 8 of the ECHR, it is necessary to have regard, in making that assessment, to the matters to which the Tribunal must have regard as a consequence of the provisions of Section 117C. In particular, those include that the more serious the offence committed, the greater is the public interest in deportation of a foreign criminal. Therefore in the Upper Tribunal’s view,  the word “unduly” in the phrase “unduly harsh” requires consideration of whether, in the light of the seriousness of the offences committed by the foreign criminal and the public interest considerations that come into play, the impact on the child, children or partner of the foreign criminal being deported is inordinately or excessively harsh.

Although the Upper  Tribunal in   KMO did  depart  from the approach advocated by the Tribunal in MAB  they did adopt the other guidance offered by that decision.

Recently, having  acknowledged the conflict in   KMO  and  MAB, Upper Tribunal  Judge Gill   in AB (para 399(a)) [2015] UKUT 657 (IAC) bluntly stated that neither MAB nor KMO  were binding upon  her but in effect indicated  that if she had  to pick  a decision to follow, she would chose KMO.

RELEVANT  LEGISLATION : THE UK BORDERS ACT  2007

Sections 32 and 33 of the UK Borders Act 2007 provide, so far as material:

“32. Automatic deportation

(1) In this section “foreign criminal” means a person—

(a) who is not a British citizen,

(b) who is convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence, and

(c) to whom Condition 1 or 2 applies.

 

(2) Condition 1 is that the person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months.

(3) Condition 2 is that-

(a) the offence is specified by order of the Secretary of State under section 72(4)(a) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (serious criminal), and

(b) the person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

(4) For the purpose of section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77), the deportation of a foreign criminal is conducive to the public good.

(5) The Secretary of State must make a deportation order in respect of a foreign criminal (subject to section 33). …’

  1. Exceptions

(1) Section 32(4) and (5)—

(a) do not apply where an exception in this section applies (subject to subsection (7) below), and

…

(2) Exception 1 is where removal of the foreign criminal in pursuance of the deportation order would breach—

(a) a person’s Convention rights, or

(b) the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.”

THE  RELEVANT  IMMIGRATION  RULES

With effect from 9 July 2012 with the amendment to the Rules by HC 194 which  inserted new paragraphs 396–400 into the Rules, these paragraphs sought to set out the weight to be given to the public interest in deportation cases where an individual relied upon his private or family life under Article  8 of the ECHR.

The new provisions were further amended by HC 532 with effect from 28 July 2014. These  provisions apply to all appeals heard on or after 28 July 2014 even if the Secretary of State’s decision was made before that date.

Paragraph  396 of the immigration rules provides the following presumption:

“396. Where a person is liable to deportation the presumption shall be that the public interest requires deportation. It is in the public interest to deport where the Secretary of State must make a deportation order in accordance with section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007”.

Paragraphs  397 and A398 make clear that the rules aim to encompass rights protected by the ECHR:

“397. A deportation or der will not be made if the person’s removal pursuant to the order would be contrary to the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention or the Human Rights Convention. Where deportation would not be contrary to these obligations, it will only be in exceptional circumstances that the public interest in deportation is outweighed”.

“A398. These rules apply where:

(a)  a foreign criminal liable to deportation claims that his deportation would be contrary to the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention;

(b) a foreign criminal applies for a deportation order made against him to be revoked”.

“Deportation and Article 8:

“A398. These rules apply where:

(a) a foreign criminal liable to deportation claims that his deportation would be contrary to the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention;

(b) a foreign criminal applies for a deportation order made against him to be revoked.

  1. Where a person claims that their deportation would be contrary to the UK’s obligations under Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, and

(a) the deportation of the person from the UK is conducive to the public good and in the public interest because they have been convicted of an offence for which they have been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 4 years;

(b) the deportation of the person from the UK is conducive to the public good and in the public interest because they have been convicted of an offence for which they have been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of less than 4 years but at least 12 months; or

(c) the deportation of the person from the UK is conducive to the public good and in the public interest because, in the view of the Secretary of State, their offending has caused serious harm or they are a persistent offender who shows a particular disregard for the law, the Secretary of State in assessing that claim will consider whether paragraph 399 or 399A applies and, if it does not, the public interest in deportation will only be outweighed by other factors where there are very compelling circumstances over and above those described in paragraphs 399 and 399A”.

Family life with a Partner or Child:

“399. This paragraph applies where paragraph 398 (b) or (c) applies if –

(a) the person has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a child under the age of 18 years who is in the UK, and

(i) the child is a British Citizen; or

(ii) the child has lived in the UK continuously for at least the 7 years immediately preceding the date of the immigration decision; and in either case

(a) it would be unduly harsh for the child to live in the country to which the person is to be deported; and

(b) it would be unduly harsh for the child to remain in the UK without the person who is to be deported; or

(b) the person has a genuine and subsisting relationship with a partner who is in the UK and is a British Citizen or settled in the UK, and

(i) the relationship was formed at a time when the person (deportee) was in the UK lawfully and their immigration status was not precarious; and

(ii) it would be unduly harsh for that partner to live in the country to which the person is to be deported, because of compelling circumstances over and above those described in paragraph EX.2. of Appendix FM; and

(iii) it would be unduly harsh for that partner to remain in the UK without the person who is to be deported”.

Private Life:

“399A. This paragraph applies where paragraph 398(b) or (c) applies if –

(a) the person has been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life; and

(b) he is socially and culturally integrated in the UK; and

(c) there would be very significant obstacles to his integration into the country to which it is proposed he is deported”.

 

RELEVANT  LEGISLATION  PART  5A OF THE 2002 ACT- SECTION 117

In addition to the amendments to the Rules from 28 July 2014, from that date statutory provisions in a new Part 5A of the  2002  Act (inserted by Section.19 of the Immigration Act 2014) deal, in legislative form for the first time, with the issue of the “public interest” in deportation (Section 117C) and other cases (section 117B) where the court or Tribunal is determining whether a decision made under the Immigration Acts breaches Art 8 of the ECHR:

“Article 8 of the ECHR: public interest considerations

117AApplication of this Part

(1)This Part applies where a court or tribunal is required to determine whether a decision made under the Immigration Acts—

(a)breaches a person’s right to respect for private and family life under Article 8, and

(b)as a result would be unlawful under section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

(2)In considering the public interest question, the court or tribunal must (in particular) have regard—

(a)in all cases, to the considerations listed in section 117B, and

(b)in cases concerning the deportation of foreign criminals, to the considerations listed in section 117C.

(3)In subsection (2), “the public interest question” means the question of whether an interference with a person’s right to respect for private and family life is justified under Article 8(2). 

117BArticle 8: public interest considerations applicable in all cases

(1)The maintenance of effective immigration controls is in the public interest.

(2)It is in the public interest, and in particular in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, that persons who seek to enter or remain in the United Kingdom are able to speak English, because persons who can speak English—

(a)are less of a burden on taxpayers, and

(b)are better able to integrate into society.

(3)It is in the public interest, and in particular in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, that persons who seek to enter or remain in the United Kingdom are financially independent, because such persons—

(a)are not a burden on taxpayers, and

(b)are better able to integrate into society.

(4)Little weight should be given to—

(a)a private life, or

(b)a relationship formed with a qualifying partner,

that is established by a person at a time when the person is in the United Kingdom unlawfully.

(5)Little weight should be given to a private life established by a person at a time when the person’s immigration status is precarious.

(6)In the case of a person who is not liable to deportation, the public interest does not require the person’s removal where—

(a)the person has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a qualifying child, and

(b)it would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the United Kingdom

117CArticle 8: additional considerations in cases involving foreign criminals

(1)The deportation of foreign criminals is in the public interest.

(2)The more serious the offence committed by a foreign criminal, the greater is the public interest in deportation of the criminal.

(3)In the case of a foreign criminal (“C”) who has not been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of four years or more, the public interest requires C’s deportation unless Exception 1 or Exception 2 applies.

(4)Exception 1 applies where—

(a)C has been lawfully resident in the United Kingdom for most of C’s life,

(b)C is socially and culturally integrated in the United Kingdom, and

(c)there would be very significant obstacles to C’s integration into the country to which C is proposed to be deported.

(5)Exception 2 applies where C has a genuine and subsisting relationship with a qualifying partner, or a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a qualifying child, and the effect of C’s deportation on the partner or child would be unduly harsh.

(6)In the case of a foreign criminal who has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least four years, the public interest requires deportation unless there are very compelling circumstances, over and above those described in Exceptions 1 and 2.

(7)The considerations in subsections (1) to (6) are to be taken into account where a court or tribunal is considering a decision to deport a foreign criminal only to the extent that the reason for the decision was the offence or offences for which the criminal has been convicted………”

RELEVANT  CASE LAW ON THE MEANING OF UNDULY HARSH

(1)MAB (para 399; “unduly harsh”) USA [2015] UKUT 435 (IAC)

The appeal raised an important point of construction concerning the meaning of the phrase “unduly harsh” in  relation to paragraph  399 of the Immigration Rules in effect from 28 July 2014.

Arguments Made on Behalf of the Secretary  of State:

The Appellant, subject to deportation proceedings,   had  British  children  in the UK and upon his appeal against  deportation  being  allowed by the First Tier Tribunal, the Secretary  of  State appealed to the  Tribunal.

The Secretary of State did not challenge the Judge’s finding that it would be “unduly harsh” for the appellant’s children to live in the USA. However, it was  submitted that the judge’s finding that the appellant’s deportation would have an “unduly harsh” effect upon the children if they remained in the UK was flawed.

It was also  put forward on behalf of the Secretary of State  that the judge had failed to take into account the public interest in assessing whether it would be “unduly harsh” for the children to remain in the UK without the appellant.  It was stated  that the judge had wrongly simply looked at the impact upon the children. The question of whether his deportation would be “unduly harsh” could not, be decided in isolation from the public interest reflected in the seriousness and nature of the appellant’s offending. The magnitude of the public interest was relevant in determining whether any “harsh” consequences were “unduly” so.  It was also   submitted that whether the effect of deportation was “unduly harsh” required a context and that context was the individual’s offending and the public interest reflected in its seriousness, society’s expression of revulsion at serious criminality and the deterrent effect on other foreign nationals committing offences.  It was put forward that the words “unduly” had a sense of unfairness to the individual and required an evaluation of whether the consequences were or were not ‘due’ to that individual. Even though deportation might have very harsh consequences, whether it was “unduly harsh” could only be determined by looking at the magnitude of the public interest furthered by the individual’s deportation. It was  submitted that the more serious the crime the greater must be the consequences for them to be properly characterised “unduly” harsh.

Arguments made on Behalf of the Appellants:

It was  submitted  on behalf of the appellant that the judge had been entitled to find that the impact of the appellant’s deportation would be “unduly harsh” upon the children on the basis of the evidence that they were struggling to survive.  Further, it was not accepted  that the “unduly harsh” test required consideration of the public interest. However,  it was also contended that the judge had done so by considering the public interest when, in an earlier part of his determination, he set out  Section 117A-117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and stated that he had taken account of the judge’s sentencing remarks. It was accepted that the judge had not explicitly referred to the public interest in the relevant passage in his determination concerned with the issue of “unduly harsh” but, nonetheless, he submitted the judge had sufficiently considered the public interest.  Reliance  was  placed upon two passages in determinations of the Upper Tribunal in MK (Section 55 – Tribunal options) Sierra Leone [2015] UKUT 223 (IAC) at [46] and BM and Others (returnees – criminal and non-criminal) DRC CG [2015] UKUT 293 (IAC) at [109] to counter the Secretary of State’s position.

Tribunal’s Findings and Conclusions:

The Upper  Tribunal considered that nothing in MK or BM and Others supported  the Secretary of State’s submission that inherent in the adverb “unduly” is a consideration not only of the impact upon the child (or partner) but also the public interest reflected in the individual’s offending.  In  the Upper Tribunals judgement, the approach set out in  paragraph of MK and  paragraph  of BM and Others reflects the correct approach to the phrase “unduly harsh” in paragraph 399(a). In  the Upper Tribunal’s  judgment,  the Secretary of State’s submissions, if correct, would result in any ambiguity in the meaning of the phrase “unduly harsh” being resolved “more harshly” in the “government’s favour”.

Further, in  the Upper Tribunal’s   view, it was  not necessary to interpret the word “unduly” so as to necessarily implant a balancing exercise as put forward by the Secretary of State.

It was  clear to  the Tribunal  that the Secretary of State has, in paragraphs  399 and 399A, set out in detail the number of circumstances where the particular factual matrix has led the Secretary of State to conclude that the public interest in deportation (providing the individual has not been sentenced to at least four years’ imprisonment) is outweighed by those circumstances. The policy in paragraph  399 focuses upon the effect upon children (para 339(a)) or a partner (paragraph  399(b)). The wording of the provision, in itself, reflects that focus: “unduly harsh for the child”.  It seemed  to  the Upper Tribunal , that the issue of “unduly harsh” is treated as an isolated issue focusing on the individual child or partner affected by the appellant’s deportation. It is only if neither paragraph  399 nor paragraph  399A applies that the Rules contemplate the decision maker carrying out a balancing exercise for themselves applying the “very compelling circumstances” rubric and, since Part 5A of the 2002 Act  came into force, including the considerations set out in Section 117C and Section 117B.  The Upper Tribunal was of the view that there was   no place for a balancing exercise to be carried out repetitively.

In the  Upper Tribunal’s  judgment, the word “unduly” requires that the impact upon the individual concerned be ‘inordinately’ harsh. By that  they  mean that the impact would be “unusually large” or “excessive”.  They made it clear that they did   not intend that to be a definition but rather a ‘gloss’ to assist decision makers applying paragraph  399 and  indeed, Section 117C(5).

In the  Upper Tribunal’s view the First Tier  Judge did not fall into error by failing to consider the public interest in reaching his finding that it would be “unduly harsh” for the appellant’s children to remain in the UK whilst he was deported to the USA.

On the other hand, the Upper Tribunal  considered that  the First Tier Judge erred in law by failing to give adequate reasons and in reaching an irrational conclusion that the impact upon the appellant’s children of remaining in the UK was “unduly harsh”. Further, the evidence did not establish that the consequence of his deportation for them remaining in the UK was “unduly harsh”.  Applying the meaning of “unduly harsh” set out in MK that, this did  not equate with “uncomfortable, inconvenient, undesirable or merely difficult” circumstances. The Upper Tribunal  had no doubt that the circumstances identified by the judge could not be equated to “unduly harsh” consequences for the children. It could not properly be established that the effect on them of the appellant’s deportation was excessive, inordinate or severe. The only proper finding, is that the effect on the children has not been established to be ‘unduly harsh’.

The First  Tier Judge’s decision to allow the appellant’s appeal under Article  8  was found to involve  the making of an error of law and could not stand. The Upper Tribunal  set the decision aside and moved to remake the decision.

The Upper Tribunal  concluded that given the seriousness of the appellant’s offending, taking into account all the circumstances, they were  not satisfied that there were  “very compelling circumstances over and above” those in paragraph  399(a) and paragraph  399A such as to outweigh the significant and considerable weight which must be given to the public interest in the  appeal. The appeal was dismissed.

(2)KMO (section 117 – unduly harsh) Nigeria [2015] UKUT 543 (IAC):

The question of law that arose   to be addressed in the appeal concerned  the construction of the phrase “unduly harsh” in Section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (as amended) and paragraph  399 of HC 395, as amended by HC 532.

The question was  whether, in particular, when carrying out an assessment as to whether the impact upon a qualifying child or partner will be unduly harsh, should that assessment be informed by the seriousness of the offence committed by the foreign criminal facing deportation or is that assessment focused entirely upon the impact upon the innocent family member, with no reference whatsoever to the seriousness of the offence.

For the Secretary of State, it was submitted that the approach set out by the Tribunal in MAB was  not correct.

It was noted that  approach taken by the Tribunal in MAB was that there was a two stage approach, at least “potentially” so that the issue of proportionality arose only at the second stage, where a person subject to deportation failed to meet the requirements of 399 or 399A. The Upper Tribunal stated that if that were correct, the result would be somewhat remarkable in that a clear presumption enshrined in primary legislation would be displaced by an immigration rule. The Upper Tribunal considered that approach seeks to disregard the unambiguous requirement of Sectiion.117A(2) that in considering the public interest question, the court or tribunal must (in particular) have regard to, inter alia, the statement of principle found in Section 117C(2) that the more serious the offence, the greater is the public interest in deportation.

The Upper Tribunal  stated that there is nothing in the rules, or the statute, to eliminate from an assessment of what is “unduly harsh” considerations of the seriousness of the offence committed.

The Upper Tribunal considered that the phrase “unduly harsh” plainly anticipates an evaluation being required.

The Upper Tribunal   stated that the Immigration Rules, when applied in the context of the deportation of a foreign criminal, are a complete code. Where an assessment is required to be made as to whether a person meets the requirements of para 399 of the Immigration Rules, as that comprises an assessment of that person’s claim under article 8 of the ECHR, it is necessary to have regard, in making that assessment, to the matters to which the Tribunal must have regard as a consequence of the provisions of Section 117C. In particular, those include that the more serious the offence committed, the greater is the public interest in deportation of a foreign criminal. Therefore, the word “unduly” in the phrase “unduly harsh” requires consideration of whether, in the light of the seriousness of the offences committed by the foreign criminal and the public interest considerations that come into play, the impact on the child, children or partner of the foreign criminal being deported is inordinately or excessively harsh.

As noted  by the Upper Tribunal  in KMO at paragraph  26 ,  although they departed from the approach advocated by the Tribunal in MAB  they did adopt the other guidance offered by that decision being:

“Whether the consequences of deportation will be “unduly harsh” for an individual involves more than “uncomfortable, inconvenient, undesirable, unwelcome or merely difficult and challenging” consequences and imposes a considerably more elevated or higher threshold.

The consequences for an individual will be “harsh” if they are “severe” or “bleak” and they will be “unduly” so if they are “inordinately” or “excessively” harsh taking into account all of the circumstances of the individual.”

The Upper Tribunal made it clear that “all of the circumstances” includes the criminal history of the person facing deportation.

(3)AB (para 399(a)) [2015] UKUT 657 (IAC)

In AB, Upper Tribunal Judge  Gill  stated:

“54.Neither MAB nor KMO is binding upon me. Although of course I take account of the need for judicial comity, this is not necessarily determinative. In any event, given the clear conflict between the two decisions, it is not possible for me to follow both.

55.Mr Farhat mentioned MAB at the hearing in response to which I mentioned KMO. He did not address me on which of the two decisions I should follow and why. His skeleton argument refers to MAB. It is noticeable for its complete failure to mention KMO.

56.I take into account the fact that, whilst the decision in MAB was reached by a panel, the decision in KMO was made by a single Upper Tribunal Judge. Nevertheless, I am entirely persuaded by the reasoning at [8]-[25] of KMO. I prefer to follow KMO.”

CONCLUSION

MAB (para 399; “unduly harsh”) [2015] UKUT 435 (IAC) was heard  on 16 June 2015  and notified on   16 July 2015.

KMO (section 117 – unduly harsh) Nigeria [2015] UKUT 543 (IAC) was heard on 16 September 2015 and was notified on  25 September 2015.

AB (para 399(a)) [2015] UKUT 657 (IAC) was heard on 19  October 2015  and notified on 20 November 2015.

Having regard to  MAB, a Judge  would  not fall into error by failing to consider the public interest in reaching his finding that it would be “unduly harsh” for an appellant’s children to remain in the UK whilst he was deported.

These Upper Tribunal appeals were heard  and  decided  in the space of less than  6months. It would have been  thought that by the  time the  third  decision was  notified, there would be  more  or less some sort of finality as regard the applicable principles within the Upper Tribunal   if only  for the sake of consistency. This is clearly preferable to a public  acknowledgment of conflict within the Upper Tribunal itself  in reasoning upon the same ground. In  practice,  this is leading to the undesirable practice  with  the   First Tier and Upper Tier Judges choosing, depending  upon  the  facts in the appeal,   whether or not to apply KMO or MAB.  It remains to  be seen whether the conflict  will be resolved by the  Upper Tribunal itself or  be left to the Court of Appeal.