Asylum reforms critical to addressing current challenges

UNHCR/Elizabeth Ruddick

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has today published a comprehensive audit of the UK’s asylum intake, registration and screening procedures, which includes 28 recommendations for change. The report concludes that Home Office Staff, who work commendably under very difficult circumstances, are being hampered in the performance of their duties by an inefficient and unnecessarily complicated system.

Fair and efficient registration and screening procedures are the first stage of a well-functioning asylum system. For refugees, they ensure access to status determination procedures and to the support and services necessary to live in dignity and safety while their claims are being processed, as well as laying the foundation for future integration. For state authorities, they facilitate the effective deployment of resources and the triaging of claims where appropriate, and protect against fraud, abuse and risks to public safety. Inefficiencies, a lack of training and resources accordingly create serious risks for the welfare of refugees and asylum-seekers while undermining the effectiveness of the system overall.

In summary, UNHCR observed Home Office staff working very hard under difficult conditions, driven by a commitment to support each other and to promote, as far as possible, the welfare of the asylum-seekers for whom they were responsible. They were expected to complete a wide range of important tasks – from security checks to accurate data entry to interviewing to making legally significant decisions – in a single appointment. This often proved impossible, due to inadequate training and/or insufficient staff to deal with the number of applicants. Administrative and information systems were under- resourced and poorly designed, leading to hours of wasted or duplicated work. Although they were proud of what they were