World | UK
Asylum applications hit new low
Asylum applications were at a record low in the second quarter of the year, with just 5,720 made during the period.
- Financial Times
- Published: 23:47 August 23, 2008
London: Asylum applications were at a record low in the second quarter of the year, with just 5,720 made during the period.
This was a drop from 6,595 in the first three months of 2008, prompting Liam Byrne, immigration minister, to claim "Britain's borders are stronger than ever".
There were 16,800 people classed as "failed asylum seekers" in 2007. Only 13,705 left the UK during the same period, however - down 25 per cent on 18,280 in 2006. Separately, 30,230 other people - with no link to asylum cases - were removed from the UK in the first half of this year. These included 2,500 foreign prisoners.
"Foreign lawbreakers are being removed from Britain at record levels," said Mr Byrne. "I have made it repeatedly clear that people who come here must earn the right to stay, work hard and play by the rules.
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