Refugee group raises concern over reasons for fall in asylum applicants

Applications for asylum fell by 13 per cent to 9,210 in the second
quarter of 2004, new official figures have revealed.

The government has attributed the fall to the closure of Sangatte,
the introduction of fast-track processing, and “tough new
legislation”.

However, Margaret Lally, deputy chief executive of the Refugee
Council, described the fall in applications as “extremely
worrying”.

“The government claims to be offering a safe haven to people
fleeing persecution. It is therefore worrying that the number of
people offered sanctuary here has fallen so dramatically when we
are seeing widespread repression and conflict in many parts of the
world.”

The number of people removed in the same period, excluding
dependents, fell by 6 per cent to 3,130.

The government said this was because nationals from the 10 European
Union accession countries were now eligible to work in the
UK.

Meanwhile, as Community Care went to press, Colnbrook
immigration removal centre near Heathrow was still awaiting its
first arrivals. The centre was supposed to have opened this month
for 330 single male asylum seekers.

The news comes as more than 130 asylum seekers continue to be held
in prisons after the unrest at Harmondsworth removal centre more
than a month ago due to a lack of space at other detention
centres.

About 430 asylum seekers were moved from the west London centre
when riots broke out after a man was found hanged in his
cell.

It has also emerged that those detained in prisons include a
19-year-old asylum seeker held in Feltham young offender
institution. Initially, he was moved to Birmingham prison but
transferred after one week when his age was noted.

Sarah Cutler, policy and research officer at charity Bail for
Immigration for Detainees, said: “If they haven’t got room in a
detention centre they should be releasing them.” 

– Figures from www.homeoffice.gov.uk