MSP condemns new rules forcing asylum-seekers to travel 400 miles for screening
Christina McKelvie MSP has written to the Home Office to voice concerns about new rules which will force people who arrive in Scotland seeking asylum to travel 400 miles to the Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon to make their asylum claim. The changes were introduced by the UK Border Agency this month.
In her letter to Phil Woolas MP, the UK Minister for Borders and Immigration, the SNP MSP for Central Scotland described the changes as an additional trauma for vulnerable people which, far from simplifying or speeding up the asylum claims system, will cause further delay and expense.
Commenting today, Ms McKelvie said:
“This is a wholly unnecessary and retrograde step. Forcing tired, bewildered and destitute people to make an eight hour, 400 mile journey from Glasgow to Croydon just to lodge an initial asylum claim is simply tough-guy posturing with no useful purpose.
“Many asylum seekers, who have children or health issues, have been able to be screened in Glasgow until now. It has always been an anomaly that not everyone who arrives in Scotland was screened in Scotland – to now force everyone to make the journey to Croydon makes even less sense.
“I am particularly concerned about the impact this will have on unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum. Are these highly vulnerable young people really to be expected to make this arduous journey alone before they can even make the claim that will allow them to access extremely basic financial support?
“This rule change will do nothing to improve any part of the asylum system for anyone involved in it.
“The Home Office should think again, scrap this senseless backwards step, and start using the facilities that are already here to screen all asylum seekers who arrive in Scotland, in Scotland.”
Notes:
As of 14 October 2009, all in-country initial asylum applications must be made at the UKBA’s Croydon centre.
A person is defined as an asylum seeker whilst they go through the process of claiming asylum. Under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution in a safe country. On applying for asylum, a person’s claim is assessed by the UK Home Office against the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. If their claim is successful they are recognised officially as a refugee. Only then do they have the right to work.
Until such time as an asylum claim is lodged people have no access to financial support.
According to Scottish Refugee Council figures, in July to September this year, a total of 68 people arrived at Scottish Refugee Council offices looking to claim asylum. Of those, 36 had to be supported financially to get to Liverpool and 32 were screened in Glasgow, and entered the asylum process here.