The government department responsible for housing asylum seekers says it will no longer publicly identify its staff after one had their personal information shared online while others were threatened with violence.
The Department of Children and Equality said there was a “tangible risk” for staff as they grappled with incidents involving arson attacks, threats to staff and facilities, animal cruelty incidents and widespread intimidation.
Under normal circumstances, public bodies are obliged to provide the names of staff members when publishing documents or releasing them in response to Freedom of Information requests.
However, the department said it had become too dangerous in a “turbulent environment” for people working in international protection and integration.
They said the threat of violence against their employees from far-right extremists was very real and that the decision to withhold staff names was “not taken lightly.”
The department said release of any information could reasonably be expected to endanger safety based on a spate of incidents.
They said: “[There have been] notable and multiple instances of protest and criminality associated with IPAS [International Protection Accommodation Services] facilities.
“In addition to welcome discourse, or peaceful protests that have taken place during this period, the international protection accommodation sector has also had to contend with arson attacks, threats to staff and facilities including threats of fire, animal cruelty incidents, intimidation of people at work, and damage to facilities and staff property.”
They said one staff member had already been ‘doxxed’ on social media with their personal information shared widely.
The department said further information could easily be used to track down civil servants through social media using as little as their name and employer.
They said they would also be withholding the names of staff members in other public bodies that came into contact with the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
A letter from them said: “There have been several instances of officials from various public bodies having their names, images and job titles shared on social media due to their association with the work of IPAS.”
It said there was a “significant risk” for anyone working in the sector and that even people with a limited involvement could be targeted online.
The department also said they would no longer provide details of the names and locations of centres used for accommodation for international protection applicants.
“Between August 2023 and August 2024, there were 33 recorded arson attacks on current, potential or rumoured international protection accommodation centres,” the department said.
“Others have been subject to protest including criminal damage.”
The department said that while some accommodation centres were well known amongst the public, there were “many which are not.”
They added: “The department has a duty under [international protection laws] to protect and guarantee the privacy of international protection applicants and to ensure that their identity as international protection applicants is kept confidential.”