Watch Out

At the same time the Government was failing to be firm enough in removing failed applicants. The report found that the systems to remove failed asylum seekers from Britain were “not effective and sap credibility and public confidence from the entire asylum system”.

Individual members of the Commission were more strident in their criticisms. Lord Ramsbotham, a former chief inspector of prisons and IAC member, said: “The treatment of asylum seekers falls seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society.

“In particular, the enforced destitution of many thousands of refused asylum seekers is indefensible and runs the risk of placing a shameful blemish on our nation’s proud record of providing for those who come here in search of sanctuary.”

The immigration service today denied the criticisms. Lin Homer, chief executive of the BIA, said: “The claims made in this report are not based on any thorough knowledge. I totally refute any suggestion that we treat asylum applicants without care and compassion.

“We have a proud tradition in Britain of offering sanctuary to those who truly need our protection, and anyone seeking asylum can have their case reviewed by an independent judge. We operate a firm but humane system, supporting those who are vulnerable with accommodation and assistance.

“But we expect those that a court says have no genuine need for asylum to return home voluntarily, saving taxpayers the expense of enforcing their return. We will enforce the removal of those who refuse to comply, always ensuring first that it is safe to do so.”

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, which campaigns against mass immigration, said the report failed to note that in recent years 70 per cent of asylum claims in the UK had been rejected as not genuine.

“Despite its official-sounding title, this is a private initiative by a number of charities involved in asylum issues,” he said. “If you set foot in Britain and say the word ’asylum’ you have an 80 per cent chance of staying, more often than not illegally. No wonder they are still queuing up in Calais.”

There has been a dip in the number of forced removals in the last year, with 3,595 asylum seekers and dependants removed in 2007 compared with 18,280 in 2006.

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said the report was right to point out that the asylum system in this country is “broken”.

“Almost a quarter of all asylum appeals decided in 2006 resulted in Home Office decisions being overturned,” he said.

“The asylum process combines incredible complexity with systemic incompetence and is not fit for purpose.”

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