A law firm representing travellers has described the UK’s quarantine hotel policy as an “unlawful deprivation of liberty” and is seeking a judicial review.
At present all passengers, even those who have been fully vaccinated and tested negative for the virus, must spend 11 nights in quarantine hotels on return from red list countries.
More than 60 countries including Zimbabwe, Turkey, Mexico and Kenya are currently on the red list.
The other European countries with mandatory quarantine involving hotel detentions - Ireland and Norway - have amended their schemes so fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from needing to quarantine.
London-based firm PGMBM argues that even “prisoners are entitled to more liberty than those forced to quarantine in hotels.”
The legal team is now seeking compensation for anyone who has been double-jabbed in the UK and has stayed at a quarantine hotel, reported the BBC.
PGMBM managing partner Tom Goodhead told the broadcaster: “Mandatory hotel quarantine is a fundamental breach of human rights. It has led to the false imprisonment of people who are fully vaccinated and have tested negative.
“We want to see this draconian policy scrapped and those affected to be properly compensated,” he continued.
Mr Goodhead added that the majority of the people who get in touch with the law firm are not travelling to or from red list countries for holidays or for leisure.
“They are often travelling for emergency or urgent reasons and would not be travelling unless they felt it was absolutely necessary,” he explained.
This is the second case PGMBM has brought on quarantine hotels. The first was on the grounds of financial hardship and resulted in the government offering the option to pay in 12 monthly instalments for those facing financial difficulties.
The move comes as the government upped the cost of staying in a quarantine hotel from £1,750 to £2,285.
