Who is an ‘asylum seeker’?

UN 1951 definition… Someone who ‘owing to a well-

founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself to the protection of that country

So how come…?

In 2011 there were 22835 applications for asylum to the UK.

Only 7190 of these were initially successful.

That is less than a third!

Staying on illegally…

All government support is withdrawn with no right to work.

Regular reports to detention centre- may be detained indefinitely.

Can be forcibly removed at any time.

5 short fallings of the asylum process…

1. Destitution- ‘bogus’ asylum seekers.

2. Cases should be closed within 6 months…

3. Dawn raids and detention centres.

4. Privatisation of asylum services- G4S.

And 5…

The media…

Why is it like this?

Lead by example to deter others.

It’s working- in 2000 there were 80315 applications, in 2004 there were only 40202.

And today only 22835!