A London law firm that represents travellers is challenging the Government’s quarantine hotel policy.
Currently, travellers have to spend 11 nights in quarantine hotels when they return from red list countries even if they are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid.
The law firm PGMBM said this was an ‘unlawful deprivation of liberty’ and have begun legal proceedings against the Government’s quarantine rules.
READ MORE: Mum aghast at ‘filthy’ £1,750 Heathrow quarantine hotel where she was ‘treated like a criminal’
PGMBM managing partner Tom Goodhead said: “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.
“Prisoners are entitled to more liberty than those forced to quarantine in hotels.”
On Thursday, the cost of staying in a quarantine hotel rose from £1,750 to £2,285.
Red list arrivals, as well as quarantining, must take a Covid test twice during their confinement.
Breaking the rules or providing inaccurate details could land a passenger with a hefty fine of up to £10,000 or up to 10 years in prison – or both.
The law firm is seeking compensation for their travellers and also for anyone who has been double jabbed in the UK and has stayed at a quarantine hotel.
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They are also looking to claim refunds of the cost of the quarantine hotel stays.
“We want to see this draconian policy scrapped and those affected to be properly compensated,” Mr Goodhead added.
This is the second case PGMBM has brought about quarantine hotels.
The first was about the financial difficulties of the passenger and the result was the government offering the option to pay in 12 monthly instalments for those in such a situation.
Mr Goodhead said 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.
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https://www.mylondon.news/lifestyle/travel/heathrow-gatwick-law-firm-compares-21290157
