Policy puts asylum seekers in jeopardy

Many asylum seekers are unable to access legal representation as
a result of the legal aid cuts brought in by the government in
April 2004, according to a new report, writes Amy
Taylor.

The research, carried out by the charities Bail for Immigration
Detainees and Asylum Aid, found that the cuts have resulted in a
reduction in the amount of good quality legal advice available to
asylum seekers.

It warns that asylum seekers who were badly represented or
unable to get any legal help faced removal from the UK without key
facts in their cases being considered by the Home Office or the
courts, putting them at risk of persecution or death.

The study found that many law firms had pulled out of asylum and
immigration work altogether or had significantly reduced the amount
of work they are able to take on since the cuts were
implemented.

It is based on information submitted by 78 organisations and
individuals working with asylum seekers on the front line.

‘Justice Denied. Asylum and Immigration Legal Aid –
a System in Crisis’ from www.biduk.org