Asylum stats show Iraqis still left without protection

The asylum statistics for the second quarter of 2007 published by the Home Office today saw a further drop in the number of applications for asylum in the UK, as well as a continuation in the high rate of successful appeals.

Of note are the low numbers of Iraqis who applied for asylum in the UK in this quarter (405), despite tens of thousands fleeing to neighbouring countries each month. This too reflects an ongoing trend. Of those that do make their way here, very few are being offered any form of leave to stay: around 18 per cent of initial decisions are positive.

Removals are also down, following a quarter-on quarter trend. And there remains no indication of the length of time people are spending in detention.

In brief:

• There were 4950 applications for asylum in quarter 2, compared with 5680 in quarter 1.
• The top ten applicant nationalities were: Afghanistan, China, Iran, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria.
• 5,935 initial decisions were made in quarter 2, of which 76 per cent were refusals.
• Of 4005 appeals determined, 23 per cent were allowed. This reached 41% for Russian nationals, 42% for Ukrainians, 41% for nationals of Eritrea and Gambia, 51% for Somalis and 47% for nationals of Sudan.
• 2980 asylum applicants were recorded as having been removed or who left voluntarily.
• At 30 June 2007, 1,435 asylum seekers were recorded as being in detention under immigration act powers.