Labour has a plan to immediately introduce fast-track processing
for Albania and other safe countries, as new Home Office
statistics show that fewer than 1% of Albanian small boat asylum
claims in the last year have been decided.
In the year to June 2022, over 7,000 Albanians made asylum
applications in the UK having travelled by small boat. But
new figures show just 50 of those - 0.7% of the total - have had
their cases determined.
Labour is calling on the government to introduce fast-tracking
immediately for Albania and those from other safe countries so
that unfounded asylum claims can be rejected and returned in a
matter of weeks.
This could be based on similar systems used by Sweden and other
European countries which have been recommended by the
UNHCR. The fast track approach would not require months of
legislation or legal delays, would mean robust decisions, and
could be implemented straight away.
Almost two years ago the Government was urged by the UNHCR to
fast-track “manifestly unfounded” or “founded” claims –those
highly unlikely or highly likely to be granted– to clear the
backlog. Yet the Cabinet - including - failed to do so, even though
it would have accelerated decisions and returns, cut the backlog,
and saved hundreds of millions of pounds in inappropriate hotel
costs.
In evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, the Home
Secretary herself confirmed just two weeks ago that “we
do not believe it is appropriate to prioritise claims from one
nationality over another”.
The last Labour Government operated a system for fast-track
processing for asylum claimants believed to be manifestly
unfounded, with decisions made within 7 to 10 days. Several other
European countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Sweden have
fast-track procedures for manifestly unfounded cases, with
decisions made in weeks.
Accelerating clearly unfounded cases allows for people to be
swiftly returned so the asylum system can then focus on those who
have fled persecution and conflict - saving the taxpayer
significant amounts of money on expensive and inappropriate hotel
accommodation for those whose claims will likely be rejected, but
who are waiting for years due to Home Office
incompetence.
MP, Labour's Shadow Home
Secretary, said:
“Less than 1% of cases from Albania have been processed. That
just shows the level of chaos in the system and the complete
failure by Ministers to get any grip on this. They were warned by
the UNHCR almost 2 years ago to introduce fast-track systems and
they failed, and the Home Secretary rejected the idea again just
two weeks ago.
“Other countries have had these systems in place for years. But
all we’ve had from is more hyped-up rhetoric
and promises of yet more legislation, even though the last round
of legislation didn’t work.
“Labour would immediately bring in fast track systems to get a
grip, clear the backlog and start targeting the criminal gangs
who are driving this.”
Ends
Notes
- According to the most recent statistics on irregular
migration, of the 8,466 Albanian small boat arrivals in the
year ending September 2022, 85% applied for asylum (7,219 people,
relating to 6,624 applications). Of these applications, 152 were
withdrawn (2%) and 50 have received an initial decision (<1%):
-
- In evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 23rd
November, the Home Secretary stated: “the view is that
we do not believe it is appropriate to prioritise claims from one
nationality over another” - https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/11600/html/
- The government has been repeatedly advised to introduce
proper triaging and fast-tracking for asylum cases, including by
UNHCR:
-
- Fast track procedures allow for speedy decisions within weeks
for unfounded cases but also allow for further consideration in
more complex cases such as those previously identified where
Albanian women or children have been trafficked into sexual
exploitation.
- Labour have already launched a five-point plan to reform the
asylum system:
-
- Crack down on the criminal gangs through the NCA and in
partnership with France, Belgium and Europol.
- Speed up asylum decisions and clear the backlog to
prevent the use of hotels
- Reform resettlement schemes to better target those most
at risk of exploitation by trafficking and smuggler
gangs.
- Wider agreement with France including replacing the
Dublin agreement.
- Work internationally to address crises leading people to
flee their homes
