The latest analysis of the UK ’s asylum system has been published, including all relevant statistics and policy developments.

The report forms part of the Asylum Information Database, a project coordinated by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles which aims to provide up to date information on asylum practice in 23 countries.

The UK report gives a comprehensive overview of the asylum procedure, drawing together relevant facts and figures relating to refugees and people seeking asylum in this country. Understandably, as was the case across Europe, applications rose in 2021.

This year’s report includes the latest immigration statistics covering 2021 and outlines changes made to policy and new jurisprudence throughout the year, as well as summarising the response to the increasing danger faced by people in Afghanistan and Ukraine and highlighting some of the prosed asylum reforms including key measures of the Nationality And Borders Bill.

There is some good news in the report, most notably the rise in the proportion of decisions made on asylum claims resulting in applicants form many countries being provided with protection under the Refugee Convention.  Key pieces of research by NGOs also feature, as well as summaries of relevant reports by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and parliamentary committees, including much commentary on the response to people brought from Afghanistan and the use of hotel and other contingency accommodation.

Judith Dennis, Policy Manager at the Refugee Council and report author, said:

“We are very proud to contribute to the Asylum Information Database which gives an extremely comprehensive picture of the state of refugee protection across Europe.

“This is the sixth such report we’ve drafted and the underlying picture remains much the same; we take a smaller number of people than many other European countries but fail to make decisions in a timely way and provide inadequate support to many stuck in the asylum system for long periods waiting to hear news of their fate. Some of our policies and practice compare favourably but here is far too much inconsistency and the government is too slow to act when evidence of problems are highlighted, such as standards in accommodation and the destitution experienced by people once they have refugee status.

“Instead of blaming refugees for the manner in which they arrive whilst doing little to facilitate people to travel on safer routes and making unnecessary and cruel changes to the asylum process the government should concentrate on providing protection promptly to those who need it.”