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What is Asylum?
Asylum is protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their own country.
It is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (PDF download).
The UK also adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights which prevents the UK sending someone to a country where there is a real risk they will be exposed to torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Council of Europe, November 1950:
European Convention on Human Rights
UK Home Office information
Who takes them?
In 2010 the UK (23,700) ranked 5th in the EU, after France (51,600), Germany (48,500), Sweden (31,900) and Belgium (26,100). Pro rata per population Cyprus took the most.
Where do they come from?
In 2010 the main countries of origin for asylum seekers in the UK were Zimbabwe, Iran and Pakistan.
Across the EU the main countries of origin were Afghanistan, Russia, Serbia, Iraq and Somalia.
How many does the UK take?
In 2010 decisions were made on 26,690 asylum applications. Of these 16% were granted asylum; 75% were refused, and 9% were given discretionary leave to remain. These percentages vary very little from year to year.
In 2011 52,526 people who had no right to be in the UK were deported or left voluntarily.
See Immigration and asylum statistics for monthly and quarterly reports and figures.
What proof do applicants have to give to get accepted?
The Asylum Directorate, part of the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) at the Home Office, has the practical task of administering the asylum process.
The state recognises someone as a refugee by declaring that their circumstances meet the criteria of Article 1(A) of the Refugee Convention.
Article 1(A) defines a refugee as someone who has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
Humanitarian Protection (HP) and Discretionary Leave (DL)
These two categories were introduced on 1st April 2003 for some applicants who do not qualify for asylum status. Those granted this status are entitled to work and public funds.
HP will be granted to anyone who is unable to demonstrate a claim for asylum but who would face a serious risk to life or person from: the death penalty, unlawful killing, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Serious criminals, terrorists etc will be excluded from these provisions.
DL covers a range of other situations.
More about Discretionary Leave (PDF download)
What help do they get to settle in this country?
Asylum seekers who qualify for Home Office asylum support are provided with “no-choice” basis accommodation, in dispersal areas, and a weekly subsistence cash payment. Some asylum seekers choose to receive subsistence support only, which enables them to avoid being subject to dispersal. Accommodation is mainly in Scotland, the north-west, north-east, Midlands and Wales. There is none in London and very little in the south-east.
Subsistence support is currently set at 70% of income support levels for adults resident in the UK and full income support levels for dependant children under the age of 18 – for example, 2012 weekly subsistence rates for asylum seekers: Couple £72.52. Person over 18 £36.62.
Cash support for asylum seekers
The Home Office offers those asylum seekers granted leave to remain in the UK a grace period of 28 days in which asylum support is continued whilst the applicants are expected to find the means to support and accommodate themselves. Those asylum seekers whose claim is refused are granted a 21 day period of Home Office Asylum support, after which they effectively become refused asylum seekers pending removal.
Asylum seekers’ stories
G – a political activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father was executed for his political activities, G was arrested and badly beaten. In the UK his claim for asylum was refused and his appeal rejected. Now destitute, he is sleeping rough and relying on charity.
Fit for Purpose yet? Independent Asylum Commission’s Interim Findings - p.37.
Full testimonies
Refugee Action research 2006 interviewed 125 asylum seekers across the country.
Persecution, political instability, conflict, abuse or imprisonment were the drivers behind the majority of their asylum applications. A third of the women disclosed that they had been raped. One in ten interviewed described torture. Only 12% had exercised a choice in coming to the UK. The remainder said their destination was decided and arranged by others, usually agents. The vast majority were convinced that returning to their country of origin was not an option, their personal safety would be at risk, though many hoped to return once it was safe to do so.
The destitution trap. Asylum’s untold story. p.6 Refugee Action 2006
Asylum seekers in UK