Home Office figures released this week show that the total number of asylum applications received during 2005 was 24% less than in 2004.
Applications actually fell to their lowest level since 1994, with the number of removals increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter. Although the government failed to meet its self-imposed target of removing more asylum seekers than those who enter the country without gaining an initial positive decision, Home Office Minister Tony McNulty feels 'confident that we are close to achieving it'.
Organisations in the sector are concerned that the low level of asylum applications is a consequence of the government's tough and varied measures aimed at preventing asylum seekers from ever reaching the UK's shores and that people stopped in this way are not receiving a fair hearing for their case.
The Refugee Council has responded saying that the concentration on meeting statistical deadlines deflects from the real issue, which is that an asylum system should be fair and humane, and should treat asylum seekers as human beings, not as statistics.
The main points of the statistics are:
- The total number of applications excluding dependants between October and December was 6,165, a reduction of 2% from the previous quarter and 27% less than the same quarter of 2004.
- 25,270 asylum applications were received in 2005, 24% lower than in 2004 (33,960)
- The top nationality applying, for the seventh consecutive quarter, was Iran with 820 applications, a 9% increase on the previous quarter. Eritrea, Afghanistan , China and Somalia headed the list of countries of origin for applicants, reflecting as usual that asylum applications do indeed come from countries facing unrest or human rights breaches, rather than based on economics.
- 5,645 initial decisions were made in the 4th quarter - 78% were refusals (6% down on the previous quarter)
- The number of appeals dropped but the percentage of successful appeals increased to 22% overall in the 4th quarter, with much higher figures for successful appeals as seen previously, for Somalia (43%) and Eritrea (39%)
- 3,525 asylum applicants were removed from the UK, 2% up on the previous quarter and 20% up on the same period in 2004. The five nationalities accounting for the highest number of removals were Iraq, Serbia & Montenegro, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- As at 31 December, 1,450 asylum seekers were being detained under Immigration Act Powers, with the most coming from Turkey (155) and Nigeria (120). Of the total, 30 were recorded as being under 18 years old.
Further information:
Refugee Council media statement: Asylum applications plummet - UK accepts equivalent of lower-league football match
Home Office figures: Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter 2005 UK (PDF only)
