More than half the 700 people currently seeking asylum in Britain are being held in detention centres, even though they have done nothing wrong, says the Refugee Council. The council held a conference in London last week to highlight the health needs of people seeking asylum and refugees. Common problems include was injuries and infectious diseases, to which are being added the stresses of up to a year's detention pending a decision.

The council's settlement services director, Kate Allen, said that “we have also seen an increasing number of negative decisions made about their future since the new Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act …