The Home Office released its ‘Asylum Statistics: 1st Quarter 2008’ this week. Here is a summary of the main findings from the report.

Applications

• 6595 – 16% higher than Q1 2007 (5680)
• Top 5 applicant countries (and % change against Q1 2007):
  – Afghanistan (830: +10%)
  – Iraq (700: +122%)
  – Zimbabwe (640: +97%)
  – Iran (580: -3%)
  – Eritrea (470: +38%)

Initial Decisions

• 4435 – 26% lower than Q1 2007 (6005)
• 21% grants of asylum (Q1 2007: 15%)
• 11% humanitarian protection/discretionary leave (Q1 2007: 10%)
• 68% refusals (Q1 2007: 75%)
• Top 5 positive decision rates (asylum/HP/DL):
  – Eritrea 65%
  – Somalia 58%
  – Zimbabwe 28%
  – Iran 27%
  – Iraq 26%

Appeals

• 2095 received – 46% lower than Q1 2007 (3880)
• 2440 determined – 33% lower than Q1 2007 (3655)
• 21% allowed
• 72% dismissed (neither figure deviates much from the norm)
• Top nationalities whose appeals allowed:
  – Eritrea 48%
  – Sudan 46%
  – Somalia 40%

Removals

• 16760 persons – 12% higher than Q1 2007 (14970)
• 2805 principal asylum applicants
• 220 asylum dependants
• 13740 non-asylum cases
• Top 5 nationalities removed (asylum applicants – will also include to third countries):
  – Afghan (270)
  – Iraqi (205)
  – Turkish (190)
  – Chinese (185)
  – Pakistani (185)
• Of total removals, 970 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return scheme:
  – 575 principal asylum applicants
  – 75 asylum dependants
  – 320 non-asylum cases

Asylum Support

• 33865 receiving support – 31% lower than Q1 2007 (48800)
• 4770 applications – 4% higher than Q1 2007 (4575)
• Applications from Iraqis increased by 79% and from Zimbabweans by 41%
• Top 5 nationalities receiving support:
  – Iraq (715)
  – Iran (615)
  – Eritrea (455)
  – Somalia (405)
  – Zimbabwe (375)
• 1875 grants of Section 4 support – 1% lower than Q1 2007
  – Iraqis account for 31% of those supported under Section 4

Detention

• 1640 asylum applicants detained under Immigration Act powers
• 71% of all detainees