Community Care news reports on asylum seekers

May 19, 2003 in Asylum and refugees

Asylum seekers win human rights battle with government
A high court judge has ruled that the human rights of three asylum seekers were breached when they were forced to sleep rough for days after being refused support by the National Asylum Support System, writes Clare Jerrom.
Aug 1, 2003

Plans surface to cut health services for those whose claims have failed
Asylum seekers living in the UK more than a year after their applications have been rejected will no longer be entitled to non-urgent NHS treatment, under plans published by the Department of Health this week.
Jul 31, 2003 (Magazine)

Directors doubt age judgement accuracy
The Association of Directors of Social Services has warned of the difficulties in determining the age of asylum seekers after the High Court ruled that fairer investigations into age should be carried out by councils.
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

Extent of unmet need revealed
More than a quarter of refugee and asylum-seeking children have significant unmet mental health needs, research published this week reveals.
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

First port of call
The government’s first induction centre for asylum seekers has been operational for a year and a half. Anabel Unity Sale gained exclusive access to the centre and finds out what help and advice is provided as asylum seekers wait to be dispersed.
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

Give us the whole truth
Immigration minister Beverley Hughes has conceded that the National Asylum Support Service, responsible for supporting and dispersing asylum seekers, has failed to “establish a clear strategy to provide purpose, direction and governance of its activities.” That’s Home Office-speak for “the whole thing’s a bit of a shambles” – a fact that those who deal with Nass have known for some time.
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

Review says asylum support service is failing in purpose and direction
The government has failed to make public details of a critical review of the National Asylum Support Service, a move that only underlines its importance, Amy Taylor writes
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

Support for young who arrive alone
Baaf Adoption and Fostering is to develop an information and advice service for unaccompanied asylum seeker children and young people in foster care.
Jul 24, 2003 (Magazine)

‘Community worries must be addressed’
The government’s failure to address local concerns about the resettlement of asylum seekers is contributing to ill feeling and hostility, a new report suggests.
Jul 17, 2003 (Magazine)

Policies worsen health of those with HIV, say Lords and MPs
A “complete lack” of communication between the Home Office, the National Asylum Support Service and social services departments could result in the health of asylum seekers who are HIV positive deteriorating, a parliamentary report warned last week.
Jul 17, 2003 (Magazine)

Poll reveals targets for public prejudice
Asylum seekers, refugees, travellers and Roma people are the groups the public is most prejudiced against, according to a major new survey of public attitudes.
Jul 17, 2003 (Magazine)

Councils must check age of asylum seekers
A high court judge has ruled that local authorities must make a proper investigation into the age of young unaccompanied asylum seekers and not just go on the way they look.
Jul 15, 2003

Attitude problem
The UK’s twitching suburban curtains hide a suspicious and misinformed people. So it’s time the media began to recognise the positive contribution made to this country by asylum seekers, writes Melissa Benn.
Jul 10, 2003 (Magazine)

Child detentions ‘must be reviewed’
Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown last week urged he Home Office to “review its policy” on detaining the children of asylum seekers, backing Community Care’s campaign aim to stop this practice.
Jul 10, 2003 (Magazine)

The long walk to freedom
For too long women asylum seekers and refugees have been invisible, locked away from British society through fear or abuse. But change is on the way as services recognise the contribution these women can make, reports Janet Snell.
Jul 8, 2003

New doctors’ contract to boost investment in asylum services
Primary care services for refugees and asylum seekers will receive a boost following the overwhelming vote by the UK’s GPs in favour of a new contract, the government has predicted, *writes Craig Kenny*.
Jul 3, 2003

Wrexham
riots lead to call for change

Housing policy should be changed and greater
support offered to refugees living in Wrexham after riots on a
council estate there.

Jul 3, 2003 (Magazine)

Delegates
attack media over asylum

Media coverage of asylum seekers came under attack
from trade unionists last week as Unison delegates at their annual
conference denounced newspaper reports linking refugees with
criminality and abuses of the benefits system.

Jun 26, 2003 (Magazine)

Housing body
reveals extent of exploitation by private landlords

The Chartered Institute of Housing is urging the
government to examine why some housing agencies are unwilling or
unable to provide accommodation to asylum seekers and
refugees.

Jun 26, 2003 (Magazine)

Story
tellers

Refugees often need to tell their painful stories
through other people. But trained and trusted interpreters are in
short supply, with potentially disastrous conseqeunces for asylum
applicants. Natalie Valios reports.

Jun 26, 2003 (Magazine)

Integrate or
isolate

As the government prepares another refugee
integration strategy, Anabel Unity Sale looks at how the
integration of new arrivals could be smoothed by a more inclusive
approach to asylum seekers.

Jun 19, 2003 (Magazine)

Sheffield
united

The asylum seekers team in Sheffield combines
housing and social work expertise with a media-savvy approach to
making its case for a compassionate attitude to refugees. Graham
Hopkins reports.

Jun 19, 2003 (Magazine)

Community Care
calls on Tory leader to apologise for “inflammatory” language on
asylum

Community Care has written to Conservative leader
Iain Duncan Smith urging him to apologise publicly for the
“pejorative” language used by his MPs when referring to
asylum seekers and refugees, writes Derren
Hayes.

Jun 18, 2003

Processing
system is ‘catastrophic’

Immigration minister Beverley Hughes has admitted
that the asylum system has been catastrophic in recent years and
that the government’s inability to deal with the backlog of asylum
applications in the UK has been attracting asylum seekers to the
country.

May 15, 2003

Government told to reduce detention of child asylum seekers
An influential group of MPs has told the government child asylum seekers should only be detained for short periods, writes Clare Jerrom.
May 12, 2003

Government
claims rise of quarter in asylum seeker removals

The government claims nearly a quarter more asylum
seekers were removed from Britain in the last year compared to
2001-02.

May 8, 2003

‘Appeals
system needs reform’

Asylum and refugee organisations have urged the
government to reform the asylum appeals process in evidence
presented to MPs.

May 1, 2003

First forcible return of Afghan refugees
About 20 failed Afghan asylum seekers were forcibly repatriated this week by the government despite concerns from refugee organisations that the country remains unsafe.
May 1, 2003

Kurds lose fight for harassment pay-out
A family of asylum seekers who were racially harassed after being dispersed from London to a Glasgow housing estate have failed to win damages from the Home Office.
Apr 24, 2003

news analysis of damning inspection reports on removal centres
Critical inspections of removal and reception centres have fuelled fears about the government’s strategy on asylum seekers, *writes Sally Gillen.*
Apr 18, 2003

Long detention causes child trauma
Children of asylum-seeking families who are detained in removal centres experience physical, mental and social harm, according to a new report by the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees.
Apr 17, 2003

Inspectors criticise five immigration centres for providing poor services
Immigration centres housing unsuccessful asylum seekers are failing to provide appropriate mental health care for detainees or adequate services for children.
Apr 10, 2003

Services fail detained asylum seekers
Immigration centres housing unsuccessful asylum seekers are failing to provide appropriate mental health care for detainees or adequate services for children, according to the chief inspector of prisons, writes Anabel Unity Sale.
Apr 8, 2003

Fund set to toughen grant procedures
The Community Fund has agreed to tighten up its grant-making procedures, following the publication of a National Audit Office review into its grant to an organisation for asylum seekers.
Apr 3, 2003

Asylum seeker with AIDS loses court fight to halt dispersal.
A asylum seeker with Aids lost her High Court bid to stay in London this week, after she claimed that to be moved 200 miles away under the dispersal scheme would be a breach of her human rights,*writes Clare Jerrom.*
Apr 3, 2003

Blunkett’s ‘zones of protection’ attacked
Refugee campaigners have hit out at proposals by home secretary David Blunkett to develop “zones of protection” for asylum seekers outside the UK.
Apr 3, 2003