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| Asylum system 'shameful for UK' | Asylum system 'shameful for UK' |
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| The UK's treatment of asylum seekers falls "seriously below" the standards of a civilised society", a report says. | The UK's treatment of asylum seekers falls "seriously below" the standards of a civilised society", a report says. |
| The Independent Asylum Commission, led by a ex-senior judge, said the system denied sanctuary to some in need and failed to remove others who should go. | The Independent Asylum Commission, led by a ex-senior judge, said the system denied sanctuary to some in need and failed to remove others who should go. |
| It said the treatment of some asylum seekers was a shameful blemish on the UK's international reputation. | It said the treatment of some asylum seekers was a shameful blemish on the UK's international reputation. |
| It spent a year researching the report and spoke to former home secretaries, policy makers and asylum seekers. | It spent a year researching the report and spoke to former home secretaries, policy makers and asylum seekers. |
| We are a country with a basic instinct of fair play - the system denies fair play to asylum seekers not out of malice but because of a lack of resources Sir John Waite, co-chairman of the Independent Asylum Commission | We are a country with a basic instinct of fair play - the system denies fair play to asylum seekers not out of malice but because of a lack of resources Sir John Waite, co-chairman of the Independent Asylum Commission |
| The commission was established after calls from community organisations and charities for an authoritative examination of asylum after a decade of political battles over immigration. | The commission was established after calls from community organisations and charities for an authoritative examination of asylum after a decade of political battles over immigration. |
| The body of legal and professional experts on refugees held meetings around the UK. | The body of legal and professional experts on refugees held meetings around the UK. |
| In the detailed interim report, the commissioners said they had found almost unanimous support for an international asylum system that allows people to seek refuge from persecution - but they said they had also uncovered serious concerns over how it was now operating in the UK. | In the detailed interim report, the commissioners said they had found almost unanimous support for an international asylum system that allows people to seek refuge from persecution - but they said they had also uncovered serious concerns over how it was now operating in the UK. |
| The report praised immigration officials for recent reforms to how they manage asylum applications - but it warned that a "culture of disbelief" was leading to "perverse and unjust decisions". | The report praised immigration officials for recent reforms to how they manage asylum applications - but it warned that a "culture of disbelief" was leading to "perverse and unjust decisions". |
| The commissioners said policymakers were at times using "indefensible" threats of destitution to try to force some asylum seekers to leave the UK. | The commissioners said policymakers were at times using "indefensible" threats of destitution to try to force some asylum seekers to leave the UK. |
| In turn, justifiable plans to remove failed asylum seekers were proving to be ineffective, leading to a further sapping of public confidence. | In turn, justifiable plans to remove failed asylum seekers were proving to be ineffective, leading to a further sapping of public confidence. |
| 'Fair play' | 'Fair play' |
| Sir John Waite, co-chairman of the commission and a former Appeal Court judge, said this particular issue was a "blemish" on the UK's reputation. | Sir John Waite, co-chairman of the commission and a former Appeal Court judge, said this particular issue was a "blemish" on the UK's reputation. |
| ASYLUM STORIES If claiming asylum is not a crime, why do we have these invisible bars around us all the time? Shoherah Muhummad, Leeds Asylum seekers' stories | ASYLUM STORIES If claiming asylum is not a crime, why do we have these invisible bars around us all the time? Shoherah Muhummad, Leeds Asylum seekers' stories |
| "We heard worrying stories about the conditions being experienced by some asylum seekers, in particular the scale of the destitution," Sir John told the BBC. "The picture that emerged was one of people struggling to live." | "We heard worrying stories about the conditions being experienced by some asylum seekers, in particular the scale of the destitution," Sir John told the BBC. "The picture that emerged was one of people struggling to live." |
| "We are a country with a basic instinct of fair play - it's rooted deeply in our national character," said Sir John. | "We are a country with a basic instinct of fair play - it's rooted deeply in our national character," said Sir John. |
| "The system denies fair play to asylum seekers not out of malice but because of a lack of resources." | "The system denies fair play to asylum seekers not out of malice but because of a lack of resources." |
| Sir John said the commissioners were concerned over the detention of asylum seekers, including children and the "hopelessly confused" public perception of asylum and its place in the immigration system. | Sir John said the commissioners were concerned over the detention of asylum seekers, including children and the "hopelessly confused" public perception of asylum and its place in the immigration system. |
| The hearings had also come across torture victims being fast-tracked through the system, despite official guidelines saying this should not happen. | The hearings had also come across torture victims being fast-tracked through the system, despite official guidelines saying this should not happen. |
| Overall, the treatment of asylum seekers fell "seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society," said the report. | Overall, the treatment of asylum seekers fell "seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society," said the report. |
| Figures show there were 23,430 asylum applications in 2007 - the lowest for 14 years - and a quarter of the record set in 2002. | Figures show there were 23,430 asylum applications in 2007 - the lowest for 14 years - and a quarter of the record set in 2002. |
| The commission has asked the Home Office to respond to the findings before final recommendations are published in the summer. | The commission has asked the Home Office to respond to the findings before final recommendations are published in the summer. |
| A Home Office spokesman was unavailable for comment ahead of the report's Thursday launch. | A Home Office spokesman was unavailable for comment ahead of the report's Thursday launch. |
| Neither Jacqui Smith, the present Home Secretary, nor Lin Homer, head of the Border and Immigration Agency, gave evidence to the body - but the commissioners add the Home Office did not block the inquiry or requests to meet other officials. | Neither Jacqui Smith, the present Home Secretary, nor Lin Homer, head of the Border and Immigration Agency, gave evidence to the body - but the commissioners add the Home Office did not block the inquiry or requests to meet other officials. |