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Think-tank's call for an end to destitution welcomed

Monday December 15th 2008

THE policy of making refused asylum seekers destitute must be scrapped, according to a report by a think-tank set up by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith.  

Asylum Matters: Restoring Trust in the UK Asylum System was released today by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), and makes a raft of recommendations to restore public confidence in the asylum system.

Refugee Action and Church Action on Poverty (CAP) both welcomed the report and urged the government to review its policy of making refused asylum seekers destitute.

The report argues that withdrawing all support does not make asylum seekers return home as intended, and instead has left thousands of people living on Red Cross food parcels and relying on charities. Many have to survive by working in the black economy or turning to prostitution.

The CSJ also advocates increased promotion of voluntary return as an alternative to forced removals, which are distressing and expensive.

Sandy Buchan, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, said: “This report highlights the terrible plight of asylum seekers, who are forced into homelessness at a time when they need to be supported to plan for the future. We see people every day who are living in desperate circumstances and are extremely traumatised. We welcome measures such as the temporary right to work for people who cannot return home and end-to-end support for asylum seekers to help them make informed decisions on their future.”

Niall Cooper, Coordinator of Church Action on Poverty, said: “It is inhuman and counterproductive for the government to make failed asylum seekers homeless and destitute. We welcome the proposal that refused asylum seekers who cannot return home should be given a temporary license to enable them to work and to access health care.”

The report also recommends that the UK Border Agency should be limited to enforcement of immigration laws, and that a new independent body consisting of three magistrates should be set up to adjudicate on decisions. Charities and voluntary groups should also support asylum seekers while their cases are prepared and heard, and should continue to do so as people are either integrated into society or helped to return voluntarily.

ENDS

For more information call Julia Ravenscroft, Press Officer at Refugee Action, on 0161 233 1956 or 07771 748 159.

• To read the full report go to http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk.
• Refugee Action and Church Action on Poverty are members of Still Human Still Here, a broad coalition of 24 organisations who are campaigning together to bring to an end the destitution of refused asylum seekers.
• Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and support their settlement through community development work. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 27 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees and advised more than 40,000 asylum seekers and refugees last year. Actors for Refugees is supported through Refugee Action's Refugee Awareness Project, which aims to increase public understanding of asylum through workshops, talks and other local events. For more information visit www.refugee-action.org.uk.
• Church Action on Poverty is an national ecumenical charity supported by all the main Christian denominations, working to develop lasting solutions to a range of poverty-related issues in the UK. We engage in campaigning, advocacy and capacity building work with faith groups and marginalised communities across the UK, including work on debt, low pay and asylum destitution. For more information visit www.church-poverty.org.uk

 

 

 

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