New asylum system 'unreasonable'

The new asylum system is 'unreasonable', Croydon councillor Gavin Barwell says

Changes to the way asylum claims are made has put huge pressure on services in south London, according to Croydon Council.

Since 14 October, refugees who have not claimed asylum at their port of entry have had to travel to Lunar House in Croydon to make their application.

About 90% of asylum claims are made this way, the Refugee Council said.

Croydon Council said it now pays about £3m extra direct costs and £5m indirect costs annually to fund the centre.

The council said that refugees, who must travel to Croydon regardless of where they arrived in the UK, will settle in the borough, putting greater pressure on its resources.

'Poor unfortunate people'

Conservative Councillor Gavin Barwell said the new system costs the council about £33m to run, but the government only currently compensates it £30m, leaving a funding gap of £3m.

Indirect costs, of £5m, he said, included additional expenditure on education for the children of asylum seekers.

It is unfair and unreasonable, forcing people in other parts of the United Kingdom to travel to Croydon just to ask for asylum Donna Covey, Refugee Council

"It is wrong as a matter of principle that one local authority area has to deal with national issues," said Mr Barwell.

"We have always tried to help poor unfortunate people.

"But at the moment it's unfair that we have to deal with the problem for the entire UK."

The Refugee Council's chief executive Donna Covey said: "It is unfair and unreasonable, forcing people in other parts of the United Kingdom to travel to Croydon just to ask for asylum.

"The asylum process needs to be more, not less, accessible.

"People claiming asylum will include traumatised, vulnerable and exhausted families and individuals.

"Many will have travelled long distances already, and may be penniless."

The Refugee Council has written to the UK Border Agency to outline its concerns.

Tony Smith, the UK Border Agency regional director for the south east region, said: "We value the relationship we have with the residents of Croydon and we have been careful to ensure that the recent changes we have made will not have a negative impact for them."

"Reduced asylum intake means we anticipate only minimal increases to the numbers of people seeking to use the asylum screening unit as a result of these changes," he added.

"We are monitoring the situation carefully but there has been no significant increase in the number of visitors to the unit."