The backlog of asylum circumstances within the UK has hit a brand new document excessive, Home Office figures present.
A complete of 175,457 individuals have been ready for an preliminary choice on an asylum software within the UK on the finish of June, up 44 per cent from 122,213 a 12 months earlier and the very best determine since data started in 2010.
The variety of individuals ready greater than six months for an preliminary choice stood at 139,961 on the finish of June, up 57 per cent year-on-year and one other document excessive.
The rise in asylum purposes ready for an preliminary choice is “due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions”, the Home Office mentioned.
However, the variety of circumstances awaiting a choice has risen by lower than 1 per cent within the three months to the tip of June, suggesting the rise is slowing down.
“This is in part due to an increase in the number of initial decisions made, and an increase in the number of asylum decision makers employed,” the Home Office added.
But the rising variety of asylum seekers awaiting a choice is a blow to Rishi Sunak, who has promised to clear the backlog of purposes by the tip of this 12 months.
Charity Refugee Action known as on the federal government to offer these ready greater than a 12 months for an asylum choice go away to stay. It additionally urged ministers to permit asylum seekers to work whereas awaiting selections on their claims.
“The huge backlog in asylum decision making is a product of the government’s hostile environment and it is causing immense suffering to refugees who just want to get on with their lives,” head of asylum providers Rachel Goodall mentioned.
She mentioned hundreds are being pressured into inappropriate housing similar to former lodges, jail ships and Ministry of Defence websites.
“Only the private firms trousering millions in taxpayer-funded profits benefit,” she added.
It got here as asylum purposes within the 12 months to June additionally hit a two-decade excessive of 78,768, a fifth greater than a 12 months earlier, which the Home Office mentioned “partially reflects an increase in small boat arrivals to the UK”.
In the 12 months to June, 52,530 migrants have been detected coming into the UK by way of irregular routes, which embody small boats, lorries and delivery containers, 17 per cent greater than a 12 months earlier.
And of those, 44,460 per cent arrived by way of small boats, a bounce of greater than 1 / 4 in contrast with a 12 months earlier the Home Office mentioned.
Mr Sunak additionally pledged in January to “stop the boats”, however has since admitted it’s a “complex” concern and mentioned he will be unable to take action earlier than a normal election anticipated subsequent autumn.
The Home Office pointed to a slight fall within the variety of small boat crossings between January and June, however admitted “comparisons of arrivals between the same months in different years may likewise be affected by differences in weather conditions”.
Labour has mentioned any fall in crossings to date this 12 months is because of dangerous climate.