Asylum Statistics

Dec 2011 Asylum statistics

Applications:

 The number of applications for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, was 9 per cent higher in Q3 2011 (4,912) than in Q3 2010 (4,486). In 2011 there has been a significant increase in the number of applicants from Libya (672 in Q1 – Q3 compared with 62 in the same period in 2010). Applications from Syria have also increased, although on a smaller scale (129 in Q3 2011 compared with 28 in Q3 2010).

 In Q3 2011, 4,276 initial asylum decisions were made, excluding Dependants, a decrease of 14 per cent compared with Q3 2010 (4,945). 65 per cent of initial decisions were refusals, 27 per cent were grants of asylum and 8 per cent were grants of Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave.

Table 1: Asylum applications in the UK (excl. Dependants) 2008 2009 2010 Applications 25,932 24,487 17,916

% change to previous year 11% -6% -27%

Table 2: Asylum applications in the UK by quarter (excl. Dependants) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2011 4,844 4,787 4,912 2010 4,382 4,389 4,486 4,659 2009 8,428 6,111 5,108 4,840 2008 6,644 5,830 6,683 6,775

Applications by nationality:

Table 3: Top ten asylum applicant producing countries, Q3 2011 (Incl. Dependants) Q3 2010 Q3 2011 % change

Pakistan 467 1061 127% Iran 688 816 19% Sri Lanka 407 509 25% Libya 29 366 1162% Afghanistan 368 356 -3% Eritrea 236 269 14% Nigeria 291 231 -21% China 300 213 -29% Syria 35 196 460% Sudan 191 181 -5%

British Refugee Council, (commonly called the Refugee Council) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, [No 2727514] and a registered charity, [No 1014576]. Registered office: 240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB, United Kingdom Applications by location

Table 4: Applications by location (excl. Dependants), by quarter Q2 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011 Q2 2011 Q3 2011 In-country 3,974 4,051 4,169 4,298 4,288 4,303 Port 415 435 490 546 499 609 Total 4,389 4,486 4,659 4,844 4,787 4,912

Table 5: Applications by location (excl. Dependants), by year 2008 2009 2010 In-country 23,2101 22,476 16,176 % change to previous year 17% -3% -28% Port 2,721 2,011 1,740 % change to previous year -25% -26% -14% Total 25,932 24,487 17,916 % change to previous year 11% -6% -27%

Applications by Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum

 The number of applications from Unaccompanied Children, excluding dependants, was 34 per cent lower in Q3 2011 (285) compared with Q3 2010 (432). Afghanistan remains the country of origin for the largest number of unaccompanied children (31% of all applications in Q3 2011), but the number of applications from Afghanistan is significantly lower than in 2008 and 2009. The downward trend in applications since 2008 is continuing. In 2011 so far 81% of applicants are male, a similar percentage to earlier years.

Table 6: Asylum applications by Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (excl. Dependants) 2008 2009 2010 Applications 4,285 3,174 1,717

% change to previous year 18% -26% -50%

Table 7: Asylum applications by Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children by quarter (excl. Dependants) Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2011 344 339 285 2010 452 406 432 427 2009 1,050 755 736 633 2008 1,159 870 1,095 1,161

 The number of age disputed cases in Q3 2011 was 110, similar to the number in Q3 2010 (129). 69% of age disputed cases in Q3 2011 were from Afghanistan, Albania, Eritrea and Iran.

Table 8: Age Disputed Asylum applications (excl. Dependants) 2008 2009 2010 Applications 1,401 1,129 489

% change to previous year -27% -19% -58%

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 2 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB Decisions:

 4,276 initial decisions were made in Q3 2011, a 14 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (4,945).

 27% per cent of initial decisions in Q3 2011 were to grant asylum, compared with 18 per cent in Q3 2010. 8 per cent of initial decisions in Q3 2011 were to grant Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave, compared with 8 per cent in Q3 2010 and 65 per cent of initial decisions in Q3 2011 were refusals compared with 74 per cent in Q3 2010.

Table 9: Initial Decisions (excl. Dependants)

Q2 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Decisions 5,106 4,945 4,906

Refugee status 779 15% 893 18% 1,107 23%

Humanitarian 22 0.4% 23 0.5% 26 0.5% Protection

Discretionary Leave 438 9% 362 9% 320 7% Refused 3,867 76% 3,667 73% 3,543 72%

Q1 2011 Q2 2011 Q3 2011 Decisions 4,894 4,253 4,276

Refugee status 1,056 22% 970 22% 1,160 27%

Humanitarian 23 0.5% 15 0.4% 22 0.5% Protection

Discretionary Leave 350 7% 307 7% 316 7% Refused 3,465 71% 2,961 70% 2,778 65%

Table 10: Initial asylum decisions Total Refugee status Humanitarian Discretionary Refusals Protection Leave 2010 20,645 3,488 91 1,616 15,066 2009 24,285 4,188 94 2,460 17,545 2008 19,398 3,727 93 2,073 13,505

 The majority of decisions on asylum applications by unaccompanied children under the age of 17 are grants of discretionary leave. In 2010 1096 (68%) of all grants of discretionary leave were to children aged 17 and under, although they accounted for only 12% of total decisions. For decisions on unaccompanied children who have reached the age of 18 there was a refusal rate of 88% in 2010.

Table 11: Initial asylum decisions on unaccompanied children aged 17 and under Total Refugee status Humanitarian Discretionary Refusals Protection Leave 2010 1,688 264 11 1,096 317 2009 2,700 298 19 1,937 446 2008 2,673 285 14 1,789 585

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 3 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB Table 12: Initial asylum decisions on unaccompanied children who have reached the age of 18 Total Refugee status Humanitarian Discretionary Refusals Protection Leave 2010 671 63 1 17 590 2009 779 47 1 6 725 2008 704 63 1 17 590

 The countries from which the highest percentages of applicants were given refugee status in Q3 2011 were Iran, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia.

Table13: Asylum decisions by nationality, Q3 2011, top ten countries for number of decisions Decisions Refugee Humanitarian Discretionary Refusals status Protection Leave Iran 528 233 0 18 277 Pakistan 510 56 0 7 447 Sri Lanka 359 72 0 7 280 Afghanistan 314 29 0 77 208 Eritrea 252 190 0 3 59 Libya 233 24 4 10 195 China 171 13 1 31 126 Sudan 165 126 0 0 39 Nigeria 156 5 0 18 133 Somalia 155 120 7 7 21

Appeals

 2,655 appeals were determined in Q3 2011, 27 per cent lower than in Q3 2010 (3,628).

 The proportion of appeals dismissed was 69 per cent in Q3 2011, whilst 25 per cent of appeals were allowed. The remainder were withdrawn.

Table 14: Appeals determined, by quarters

Q4 2010 Q1 2011 Q2 2011 Q3 2011 Determined 3,042 3,027 2,806 2,655 Allowed 805 26% 837 28% 743 26% 661 25% Dismissed 2,078 68% 2,075 69% 1,835 65% 1,825 69% Withdrawn 159 5% 115 4% 228 8% 169 6%

Table 15: Appeals determined 2008 to 2010

2008 2009 2010 Determined 9,210 12,815 14,720 Allowed 2,125 23% 3,710 29% 4,030 27% Dismissed 6,655 72% 8,625 67% 10,060 68% Withdrawn 430 5% 475 4% 635 4%

The figures on appeals differ from those shown in earlier summaries due to changes in the data sources (see note at the end of this summary).

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 4 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB Asylum Support Applications

 The number of applications for asylum support in 2010 was 11,600, a 24 per cent decrease from 2009 (15,331).

 In 2010, 8,751 (75 per cent of the total) applications were from single adults and 2,849 (25 per cent of the total) from family groups.

Table 16: Applications for asylum support (excl. Dependants) 2007 2008 2009 2010 Applications 16,173 17,088 15,331 11,600

% change to previous year -13% 6% -10% -24%

 The total number of asylum seekers (including dependants) in receipt of Section 95 asylum support at the end of Q3 2011 was 20,639, a 10 per cent decrease from the end of Q3 2010 (22,985).

 2,932 of these asylum seekers were receiving subsistence only support at the end of Q3 2011.

 17,707 of these asylum seekers were supported in dispersal accommodation at the end of Q3 2011.

 The region of the UK with the largest number in dispersal accommodation at the end of Q3 2011 was the North West (5,351).

 883 asylum seekers were in initial accommodation under Section 98 support at the end of Q3 2011

Table 17: Asylum seekers in receipt of asylum support (incl. Dependants) End of 2007 End of 2008 End of 2009 End of 2010 Dispersed accommodation 34,133 25,135 23,840 18,724

Subsistence only 8,900 6,194 4,672 3,315 Initial accommodation 1,441 1,240 634 650

Applicants supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

 853 decisions to grant Section 4 support were made in Q3 2011, a 53 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (1815).

 As at the end of Q3 2011, 2,393 applicants, excluding dependants, were receiving Section 4 support, 46 per cent lower than in Q3 2010 (4,412).

ENFORCEMENT & COMPLIANCE

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 5 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB Removals (Total)

 In Q3 2011, a total of 13,253 persons were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK, a 13 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (15,261).

 Of those removed or departing voluntarily in Q3 2011, there were 2,120 persons (including dependants) who had claimed asylum (a 19 per cent decrease from Q3 2010) and 11,133 non- asylum cases (a 12 per cent decrease from Q3 2010).

 Of those removed or departing voluntarily in Q3 2011, 4,141 persons were initially refused entry at port (a 12 per cent decrease from Q3 2010), 4,957 were enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (an 8 per cent decrease from Q3 2010), 874 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes (a 30 per cent decrease from Q3 2010), and 3,281 were other voluntary departures (a 16 per cent decrease from Q3 2010).

Removals (Asylum Applicants)

 Including dependants, 2,120 asylum seekers were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK in Q3 2011, a 19 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (2,607).

 1,451 asylum seekers left via enforced removals and notified voluntary departures from the UK in Q3 2011, a 15 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (1,700).

 549 asylum seekers left under Assisted Voluntary Return schemes in Q3 2011, a 19 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (677).

 120 asylum seekers left via other types of voluntary departures in Q3 2011, a 48 per cent decrease from Q3 2010 (230).

Table 18: Removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants, including Dependants, by quarter

Q2 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011 Q2 2011 Q3 2011 Total 2,519 2,606 2,290 2,600 1,828 2,120

DETENTION

Persons leaving detention

 A total of 4,085 people were recorded as removed from the UK upon leaving detention, having been held solely under Immigration Act powers in Q3 2011; 1,475 (36 per cent of the total) were asylum detainees.

 29 children were recorded as leaving detention in Q3 2011. Of these 21 were removed from the UK, 0 were granted leave to remain and 8 were given temporary admission or released.

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 6 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB  Of those removed from the UK from detention 1,172 people had been detained for 3 days or less and a further 1,626 had been detained for 28 days or less. 24 people had been detained for 12 – 24 months and 5 for 24 months or more.

Persons Detained at the end of Q3 2011

 At the end of Q3 2011 a total of 2,909 persons were detained.

 2,830 were held at UK Border Agency Removal Centres, 77 at UK Border Agency Short Term Holding Facilities, and 2 at Cedars House Pre-Departure Accommodation.

 1,637 persons who had sought asylum at some stage were being detained solely under Immigration Act powers (56 per cent of all detainees)

 88 per cent of all detainees were male.

 There was 1 person detained solely under Immigration Act powers who was recorded as being less than 18 years old.

Detained Asylum Seekers by Nationality

Table 19: Countries with largest numbers of asylum detainees, end of Q3 2011

End of Q3 End of Q3 % change 2010 2011 Pakistan 161 209 30% Afghanistan 153 166 8% China 189 166 -12% India 114 116 2% Sri Lanka 61 116 90% Bangladesh 71 95 34% Nigeria 102 77 25% Algeria 49 64 31% Iran 65 61 -6% Iraq 121 43 -64%

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 7 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB NOTE

Figures given in this summary may differ from those in earlier summaries. In some cases this is because of rounding which was done in Home Office Statistical Bulletins which is no longer done, and in other cases, particularly for more recent statistics, because of adjustments made as a result of more complete and accurate information becoming available.

There are significant changes in the figures on appeals. These are now sourced from the UKBA database and are for main asylum applicants. The quarterly data used to be sourced from the Tribunals Service. The Tribunals Service figures were higher as they had a wider definition of asylum appeals, including, for example, some human rights cases and also included some individuals classed as dependants by UKBA. For a fuller explanation see the Control of Immigration quarterly statistical summary for the first quarter of 2011: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration- asylum-research/control-immigration-q1-2011-t/?view=Standard&pubID=891312

The full detailed statistics covering recent periods can be found on the Home Office website via the following link: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration- asylum-research/?d-7095067-p=1

Older research publications which have now been archived can be found via this link: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrati on-asylum-stats.html

Other Refugee Council publications are available at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Page 8 of 8 Registered charity no. 1014576 Registered company no. 2727514 Registered address: 240-250 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BB