Getty PicturesA report 111,000 asylum functions have been made to the UK through the 12 months to June, however the authorities is processing circumstances sooner, new Dwelling Workplace figures present.
This is a rise of 14% from the earlier 12 months, and it’s larger than the height of 103,000 in 2002.
However officers are processing extra circumstances than earlier than the final election, which means that over the long run there could also be fewer folks within the system needing housing help.
The newest information, which covers Labour’s first 12 months in workplace, comes as the federal government faces rising strain over immigration.
The figures additionally confirmed 71,000 circumstances, regarding 91,000 folks, have been awaiting an preliminary determination. The variety of circumstances is decrease than the variety of folks since one case also can cowl the primary claimant’s household.
That backlog is sort of half the height of 134,000 circumstances on the finish of June 2023.
Because of this there are 18,536 fewer folks ready for a choice right this moment than there have been in March.
The numbers of asylum seekers in lodges has risen barely to 32,059 – a determine larger than when Labour got here to energy, however effectively beneath a peak of 56,000 in September 2023 below the Conservatives.
Labour has pledged to clear the backlog by 2029, pledging to chop Channel crossings and to open new government-run lodging.
Ministers hope to finish using lodges over the long run. Nonetheless that will depend on how rapidly they’ll take away individuals who don’t have any case to be within the UK.
Asylum seekers who can not financially help themselves are positioned in housing whereas their claims and appeals are thought-about.
Within the 12 months ending June 2025, the Dwelling Workplace forcibly eliminated 9,100 folks – up 1 / 4 on the earlier 12 months.
Greater than half have been overseas nationwide offenders who have been being deported on the finish of sentences.
In the meantime, the Excessive Court docket on Tuesday dominated a hotel in Epping, Essex, should stop housing asylum seekers after a authorized problem by the native council.
Different councils throughout the nation, including some run by Labour, are actually contemplating authorized motion.
Most asylum claims have been made by folks from Pakistan, only a few of whom arrived within the UK on small boats – moderately, most arrived legally on work or research visas and solely later claimed asylum.
In the meantime, most individuals arriving by small boat have been from Afghanistan.
‘I really feel left behind’
Among the many backlog of asylum claims is Daastan’s – who didn’t need to use his actual title.
The 26-year-old fled Afghanistan in 2023, fearing for his life after his father and brother have been focused by the Taliban.
After arriving within the UK, he utilized for asylum and the Dwelling Workplace discovered him a lodge room in Yorkshire, the place he has been ever since.
“You escape one downside and now you are in one other downside,” he advised the BBC.
His declare was denied after round a 12 months, and he’s now awaiting the result of an attraction.
He’s given three meals a day and is allowed to go away for a stroll if he indicators out with a guard. In any other case, he spends most of his days in silence as his roommate doesn’t communicate English.
In the future, by his window, he watched as guards and police surrounded the lodge and stopped protestors from getting any nearer.
“All we asylum seekers wished was a shelter so the federal government put us in a lodge. That wasn’t our selection,” he stated. “We’ve not completed something.”
Elsewhere, Godgive – who additionally didn’t need to use her actual title – advised the BBC she felt “left behind” and “caught” within the asylum system.
She has not seen her six-year-old son since she left Cameroon, fleeing violence, three years in the past.
Ready for the result of her declare, she lives in a shared home with different asylum seekers supplied by the Dwelling Workplace within the north-east of England.
A home supervisor comes frequently to brush her bed room and ensure she has no forbidden objects, like a TV. There may be little privateness.
Godgive stated she thought-about ending her life at one stage: “I wanted to cease residing. It was an excessive amount of.”
Unable to work or research, she stated she dreamt of volunteering or coaching herself in new abilities – something to offer her objective and a solution to contribute.
“I do not know the place to go and I do not know when it should change.”
Authorities spending on asylum within the UK was down by 12%, the brand new figures present.
The whole stood at £4.76bn within the 12 months ending March 2025, down from £5.38bn the earlier 12 months.
It covers Dwelling Workplace prices associated to asylum, together with direct money help and lodging, however not prices regarding intercepting migrants crossing the Channel.
Particular prices for lodges weren’t revealed within the newest information, however Dwelling Workplace figures launched in July confirmed £2.1bn was spent on lodge lodging – down from £3bn the earlier 12 months.
The information for the 12 months to June 2025 additionally confirmed that:
- Small boat arrivals accounted for 88% of arrivals, at 43,000
- This was 38% larger than the earlier 12 months, however barely decrease than the height in 2022 of 46,000 folks
- Greater than half of these arriving got here from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria
- Afghans have been the commonest nationality, accounting for 15% of small boat arrivals (6,400)
- Since January 2018, three-quarters of small boat arrivals have been males, whereas solely 16% have been kids
- 5,011 kids – these below the age of 18 – crossed by small boat to use for asylum within the 12 months to June
Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper stated Labour has “strengthened Britain’s visa and immigration controls, minimize asylum prices and sharply elevated enforcement and returns”.
She blamed the “damaged immigration and asylum system” and stated the earlier Conservative authorities had left it in “chaos”.
Shadow dwelling secretary Chris Philp stated the federal government is “failing” and has misplaced management of our borders”.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Sensible MP stated the asylum backlog has been “far too massive for much too lengthy”.
“The Conservatives trashed our immigration system and let numbers spiral. Now this Labour authorities is failing to get a grip on the disaster,” she stated.
If you’re struggling misery or despair, particulars of assist and help within the UK can be found at BBC Action Line.
