* Asylum applications were at their lowest in 2010, since a peak in 2002 (84,130).

* In 2010, 20,645 initial asylum decisions were made, excluding dependants, a decrease of 15 per cent compared with 2009 (24,285). The number of initial decisions has been relatively consistent in each of the last five years, ranging between 19,400 and 24,285 following a decrease from 120,950 initial decisions in 2001, which reflects the decrease in new applications in a similar period.

In 2010, the number of fresh claims for asylum, excluding dependants, was 1,555.

In 2010, there were 16,170 appeals received by the AIT / FTTIAC, 5 per cent higher than 2009 (15,420).

* In 2010, there were 17,930 appeals determined, 23 per cent higher than 2009 (14,610).

* In 2010, the proportion of appeals dismissed was 67 per cent, whilst 27 per cent of appeals were allowed. The remainder of appeal determinations were withdrawals.

Top 10 source Countries for those seeking asylum in the UK - January to December 2010
Iran - 1,870
Afghanistan - 1,605
Zimbabwe - 1,410
Pakistan - 1,400
Sri Lanka - 1,360
Eritrea - 710
Somalia - 590
Sudan - 575
India - 520
Bangladesh - 420

Enforcement And Compliance (Removals/Deportations) - January to December 2010
* In 2010, 57,085 persons were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK, 15 per cent lower than in 2009 (67,215). This is the lowest annual figure since 2005 - prior to which data are not directly comparable - and down 16 per cent compared to the peak of 67,980 in 2008. The change (since 2008) appears to be primarily due to the significantly lower number of non-asylum cases refused entry at port and subsequently removed.

* Within the total number of persons removed or departing voluntarily in 2010, there were 9,850 persons (including dependants) who had claimed asylum (15 per cent lower than in 2009) and 47,240 non-asylum cases (15 per cent lower than in 2009).

Of those leaving in 2010, 18,060 persons were initially refused entry at port (38 per cent lower than in 2009), 20,020 were enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (2 per cent higher than in 2009), 4,540 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes (8 per cent lower than in 2009), and 14,470 were other voluntary departures (7 per cent higher than in 2009).

* 5,235 foreign national prisoners were removed in 2010, 5 per cent lower than in 2009 (5,530).

Top 10 destination Countries fro those removed/deported from the UK 2010
India -  6,645
Brazil -  4,020
Pakistan - 3,575
Nigeria - 3,310
China -  3,180
USA -  2,660
Afghanistan -  2,155
Bangladesh - 1,765
Malaysia - 1,210-
Ghana - 1,015

Persons entering detention  - January to December 2010
A total of 25,935 people entered detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers in 2010. Of these, 12,575 (48 per cent of the total) were asylum detainees.

* Of the 25,935 people entering detention in 2010, 16,500 (64 per cent of the total) entered UK Border Agency Removal Centres and 9,440 (36 per cent of the total) entered UK Border Agency Short Term Holding Facilities.

* 405 children entered detention in 2010. Of these, 300 (74 per cent of the total) were asylum detainees.

Of the 25,935 people who entered detention in 2010, 24,305 entered once, 770 entered twice and 30 entered three times.

* Of the 25,935 people who entered detention in 2010: 23,065 entered for the first time; 1,835 entered for the second time; 185 entered for the third time and 15 entered for the fourth time or more since January 2009, the earliest recording point in this dataset.

Persons Leaving detention  - January to December 2010
A total of 16,565 people, held solely under Immigration Act powers, were removed from the UK upon leaving detention in 2010, 3 per cent higher than in 2009 (16,095). Of these, 6,815 (41 per cent of the total) were asylum detainees, 1 per cent higher than in 2008 (6,735).

180 children were removed from the UK upon leaving detention in 2010, 66 per cent lower than in 2009 (525).

* Of the 16,565 people removed from the UK upon leaving detention in 2010, 10,900 (66 per cent of the total) left from UK Border Agency Removal Centres and 5,665 (34 per cent of the total) left from UK Border Agency Short Term Holding Facilities.