Expansion of 'safe countries' reduces asylum appeal rights

Asylum applicants from seven more countries will have no right of appeal in the UK if their claims are refused and certified as 'clearly unfounded', the Home Office announced today.

As part of the department's drive to cut abuse of the asylum system, the seven countries are being added to the list of so-called 'safe countries'. And so, failed applicants from Brazil, Equador, Bolivia, South Africa, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - will be fast-tracked through Oakington Reception Centre.

The proposed expansion brings the number of safe countries to 24.

Announcing the change, Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said: "This is part of our continuing drive to stop the widespread abuse of our asylum system. The countries that we are adding to the list today are generally safe -individuals from these countries are not routinely fleeing for their lives and do not routinely need our protection under the Geneva convention.

"Introducing the list of safe countries in November last year dramatically cut numbers of asylum applications from nationals of the EU accession states and we are already seeing claims drop off from the seven countries we added in April this year."

The Minister said that expansion of the safe country list is one of a number of steps being put forward to tackle asylum abuse of the system.

Measures such as stronger border controls, tougher offences for people trafficking and clamp downs on illegal working, were "beginning to bite", according to the Home Office.

"However, we are not complacent and are considering further measures including new legislation to create a single tier of appeal and tackle those who deliberately destroy their documents in order to make fraudulent claims," Ms Hughes said.

The draft order for the new countries was laid today and will be debated in both Houses of Parliament. It will apply to claims made on or after the date that it comes into force.

(GMcG)