Document 111,000 UK asylum purposes in previous 12 months, figures present

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9d5a/live/c81e1580-7e9f-11f0-9b5a-93b6ac298424.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images The UK border control area at Gatwick Airport. The white-walled hall is busy with people who are queuing in a long, winding line. Some are holding suitcases and passports. There is a large blue column in the middle of the room which says: "UK/EU passports" and a large sign hangs from the ceiling which reads "UK Border"." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs A report 111,000 asylum purposes have been made to the UK through the 12 months to June, however the authorities is processing instances quicker, new House Workplace figures present.

This is a rise of 14% from the earlier 12 months, and it's greater than the height of 103,000 in 2002.

However officers are processing extra instances than earlier than the overall 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 stress over immigration.

The figures additionally confirmed 71,000 instances, regarding 91,000 folks, have been awaiting an preliminary determination. The variety of instances is decrease than the variety of folks since one case may cowl the primary claimant's household.

That backlog is sort of half the height of 134,000 instances on the finish of June 2023.

Which means that there are 18,536 fewer folks ready for a call immediately than there have been in March.

The numbers of asylum seekers in motels has risen barely to 32,059 - a determine greater than when Labour got here to energy, however nicely beneath a peak of 56,000 in September 2023 beneath 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 motels over the long run. Nonetheless that is determined by how rapidly they will take away individuals who haven't 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 of.

Within the 12 months ending June 2025, the House 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 , at the moment are 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 wish to use his actual identify.

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 House Workplace discovered him a lodge room in Yorkshire, the place he has been ever since.

"You escape one drawback and now you are in one other drawback," he instructed the BBC.

His declare was denied after round a 12 months, and he's now awaiting the end result of an attraction.

He's given three meals a day and is allowed to depart 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.

Sooner or later, by his window, he watched as guards and police surrounded the lodge and stopped protestors from getting any nearer.

"All we asylum seekers needed was a shelter so the federal government put us in a lodge. That wasn't our alternative," he mentioned. "We have not finished something."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6408/live/079a4b50-7e93-11f0-a34f-318be3fb0481.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A bar chart titled: 'Asylum hotel population has fallen, but still above pre-election period". The subheading reads: 'Quarterly figures form December 2022 to June 2025'. The y axis represents the hotel population and ranges from zero to 60,000, in increments of 10,000. The x axis represents the quarterly periods, and ranges from December 2022 to June 2025. The chart shows that the population was between 40,000 and 50,000 around December 2022, and rose each quarter to a high of more than 50,000 in September 2023, before falling to its lowest point in June 2024. The numbers then grew again for two quarters, to just under 40,000, before falling again to until the most recent quarter to 32,059 as of June 2025." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Elsewhere, Godgive - who additionally didn't wish to use her actual identify - instructed 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 end result of her declare, she lives in a shared home with different asylum seekers supplied by the House Workplace within the north-east of England.

A home supervisor comes usually to brush her bed room and ensure she has no forbidden gadgets, like a TV. There's little privateness.

Godgive mentioned she thought of ending her life at one stage: "I wanted to cease residing. It was an excessive amount of."

Unable to work or research, she mentioned she dreamt of volunteering or coaching herself in new abilities – something to present her objective and a technique to contribute.

"I do not know the place to go and I do not know when it may change."

Authorities spending on asylum within the UK was down by 12%, the brand new figures present.

The entire stood at £4.76bn within the 12 months ending March 2025, down from £5.38bn the earlier 12 months.

It covers House Workplace prices associated to asylum, together with direct money help and lodging, however not prices regarding intercepting migrants crossing the Channel.

Particular prices for motels weren't printed within the newest information, however House Workplace figures launched in July confirmed £2.1bn was spent on lodge lodging - down from £3bn the earlier 12 months.

The info for the 12 months to June 2025 additionally confirmed that:

Small boat arrivals accounted for 88% of arrivals, at 43,000 This was 38% greater 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 most typical 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 youngsters 5,011 youngsters - these beneath the age of 18 - crossed by small boat to use for asylum within the 12 months to June House Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned Labour has "strengthened Britain's visa and immigration controls, reduce asylum prices and sharply elevated enforcement and returns".

She blamed the "damaged immigration and asylum system" and mentioned the earlier Conservative authorities had left it in "chaos".

Shadow dwelling secretary Chris Philp mentioned the federal government is "failing" and has misplaced management of our borders".

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Sensible MP mentioned the asylum backlog has been "far too giant for a lot 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 mentioned.