Asylum applications rise by a fifth in year amid record Channel crossings

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “In its first year only 770 people have been helped by that scheme, when the promise from the Home Office was to help 5,000 people in its first year.” Ms Patel blamed travel restrictions during the pandemic, adding: “Resettlement rights have been limited because of the pandemic but we are committed and we are working to absolutely resettle people in the way in which we have committed to do so.” Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “By slashing our resettlement programmes and closing down safe and legal routes for refugees, Priti Patel has driven them into the hands of smugglers and traffickers. “To stop refugees making dangerous and unauthorised journeys, we must enable them to make safe and legal ones.” The figures came as the government presses ahead with a controversial suite of laws that would make reaching the UK by small boat an offence, regardless of a person’s asylum status. “And under its anti-refugee bill, the government wants to criminalise the tiny proportion of people who seek protection here.” The Home Office report said that in the year to June, the UK had the 17th highest number of asylum applicants per head of population when ranked alongside EU countries. Yesterday’s tragedy serves as the starkest possible reminder of the dangers of this.” The UN Refugee Agency has said seeking asylum in the first safe country people reach is not a requirement under international law, and that such a principle would place an “unworkable” burden on countries bordering conflicts.