‘Impossible’ to claim refuge in Scotland

The government has made it “impossible” for anyone to claim asylum
in Scotland, according to the Scottish Refugee Council.

Immigration services have stopped the charity processing claims,
citing a lack of resources and administrative reasons. Instead,
asylum seekers must now travel to Liverpool, Croydon in London or
Solihull in Birmingham, although no provision has been made to meet
their travel costs.

“As registering an asylum claim takes five minutes we fail to
understand how this can be the case,” the charity said in a
statement.

Peter Barry, a member of the council’s senior management team,
said: “We feel that this new policy represents a denial of the
right of any human being to seek protection from persecution.” He
added that the measure also contradicted the policy of dispersing
asylum seekers around the UK.

About 25 people arrive at the charity’s offices each week to claim
sanctuary.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed last week that the Glasgow
enforcement office had been providing a temporary service of
screening asylum seekers but “it was not a permanent measure”
although it would continue to accept cases of families or asylum
seekers with a vulnerability or special need.