BMJ 1994;308:1509 (4 June)

Letters

Asylum seekers in Britain

EDITOR, - In her news article Claudia Court states that 700 people are seeking asylum in Britain1; this is a considerable underestimate. The Home Office's latest figures show that 45 800 people were waiting for their applications to be processed at the end of 1993 (personal communication). To achieve the coveted status of refugee applicants have to demonstrate a well founded fear of persecution, usually because of religious or political beliefs; only 3% succeeded in 1992. The number of asylum seekers in detention varies but can rise to 950 despite there being only 450 places. Many of the rest are confined in prison - a practice that the chief inspector of prisons, Judge Tumim, recently expressed grave doubts about. His description of the detainees he saw in Pentonville prison - "distressed, despondent, and in some cases desperate" - is vivid. Four asylum seekers have committed suicide since 1987, and . . . [Full text of this article]


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