UK resists rising tide of asylum seekers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.HEATHER MILLS
Home Affairs Correspondent
The number of people granted asylum was cut by half to less than 1,000 last year, despite a massive increase in applications.
Figures published yesterday showed that there were 32,800 applications in 1994 - more than 10,000 above the previous year and eight times as many as in 1988. Only 825 people were granted refugee status and 3,700 given leave to remain - a drop of 7,500.
The number of refusals was criticised by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, which said refugees with genuine fears about their safety were now being sent back to the countries they had fled.
But the Home Office figures illustrate the Government's determination to reduce entry into the UK in the face of an ever increasing number of claims and a huge backlog in the number of appeals.
In February, Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, was forced to spend pounds 37m to speed up asylum procedures. In what is seen as a move to deter applications, Mr Howard is expected to announce further clampdowns on asylum and immigration in the next few weeks, which may include reducing access to asylum seeker's benefits.
The UK received the third-largest number of applications in Western Europe last year. Germany and the Netherlands still receive the vast majority of the 300,000 applications made to European governments.
The main increase in UK applications came from Africa, up from 46 per cent to 52 per cent, with people from Nigeria forming the largest single group - 13 per cent of the total.
There was a marked drop in applications from the former Yugoslavia, down from a peak of 5,630 in 1992 to 1,390. The Government's refusal to take more people, particularly from Bosnia, has been strongly criticised, although ministers have taken in 1,000 on a temporary basis.
Iraqis made up the biggest slice of successful applicants (46 per cent), followed by Iranians (12 per cent) and people from Turkey (11 per cent).
The figures were released a day after Amnesty International accused the Home Office of playing an expensive and ineffectual game of "human pinball" with asylum seekers.
The human rights group said the special "fast-track" procedure used to return men and women fleeing from persecution to "safe" third countries they passed through en route to the UK costs the country millions and causes hardship to vulnerable refugees.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments