Home > Current
Affairs > Articles >
Sentenced to destitution by Section 4
Report on Asylum by Citizens Advice Bureau
• Posted on Jun 29, 2006
Sentenced to destitution by Section 4
Since 2003 there has been a 15-fold increase in the number of failed asylum seekers in receipt of so-called section 4 support, on the basis that they are temporarily unable to leave the UK for reasons beyond their control. The Home Office's National Asylum Support Service (NASS) failed to respond adequately to this increase and, during 2005, delay and error in the processing of applications and the delivery of support became commonplace. This resulted in numerous cases of avoidable and shaming destitution.
A report published on Wednesday 28th June by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) 'Shaming Destitution' reveals a catalogue of horrors for those asylum seekers unable to leave the UK after losing their asylum claims.
Section 4 of the 'Immigration and Asylum Act 1999' recognizes that 'some failed asylum seekers are temporarily unable to leave the UK - or, at least, cannot reasonably be expected to do so' and gives the Government powers to provide support. To this effect they established a NASS-administered asylum support system in 2000 that became known as 'hard case' support.
"Delays of many weeks and even months in the provision of section 4 support are a very serious matter, putting already vulnerable individuals at great risk"
CAB have collated data from their offices around the UK, that found that due to delays by NASS, the seriously ill, pregnant women, elderly refugees and other vulnerable persons were living on handouts from local faith/community groups. Though the mainstay of support for these people were usually from friends who had managed to get Section 4 support.
In October 2002 CAB expressed doubts about the NASS administration of the 'Hard case' support, things have got considerably worse since then.
CAB concerns to the Government about the cash-less nature of section 4 support and the resulting limited access of section 4 supported people to 'free' NHS treatment have petty well been ignored.
CAB demands an immediate reform of 'policy & practice' of section 4 support.
At the end of the report CAB make a substantive recommendation that failed persons seeking asylum unable to leave the UK, should not be left on 'hard case' support indefinitely and that 'where it is clear that it is going to be impossible for a failed asylum seeker to leave the UK ¬voluntarily or otherwise - for some considerable period (in excess of six months), he or she should be granted some form of leave to remain in the UK."
Richard Dunstan from CAB Social Policy Department has compiled the report.
The full report can be accessed @
|
