Numbers of refugees from Syria applying for protection in the UK have increased since this time last year, and have more than doubled in the last year, according to the Home Office’s quarterly statistics on immigration and asylum published on Thursday. The statistics also showed that 37 children have been detained so far this year, despite the government’s own pledge in May 2010, to end the practice.

The Refugee Council has published a briefing containing the updated statistics, particularly regarding asylum seekers in the UK. Some of the main points include:

• The total number of asylum applications in the first three months of this year has increased slightly from this time last year—from 4,818 in the first quarter of 2012, to 5,625 in the first quarter of this year.
• Applications from people from Syria increased from 156 in the first quarter of last year to 330 this year. Over the whole of last year, applications more than doubled from 355 in 2011, to 955 in 2012, as the conflict continued in the country.
• Applications from Albanian people have also risen considerably: from 150 in the first quarter of last year to 305 in the first three months of 2013.
• 25% of negative decisions on asylum claims were overturned at appeal in the first quarter of this year, showing that a significant number of initial decisions were wrong first time.
• 37 children entered detention in the first quarter of this year.
• The number of unaccompanied children applying for asylum increased from this time last year (from 259 to 305). The total annual number decreased by 16% from 2011 to 2012. Afghanistan remained the main country of origin for unaccompanied children.
• There were 80 age disputed cases in the first quarter of this year.