UK asylum system under fire for inefficiency and ballooning costs
Britain is wasting billions as failed asylum seekers get stuck in the system for years on end, the spending watchdog has said, reports BritPanorama.
The National Audit Office (NAO) identified the Government’s “inability to promptly remove people” once claims are rejected as one of the biggest reasons the system is clogged. Asylum support costs have hit £4.9 billion this year, with accommodation swallowing the lion’s share.
In a review of people who claimed asylum in January 2023, 35 per cent were granted protection nearly three years later. However, of those refused, only nine per cent had been removed from the UK, while a significant 56 per cent of the group remained unresolved.
The report underscored chronic weaknesses in the asylum process, noting that weak data, outdated IT, and disjointed accountability make it impossible to track cases properly. The NAO recommended a whole-system approach, alongside realistic proposals for removing people who cannot be returned.
This criticism comes just days after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a package of reforms aimed at addressing the issues within the asylum system. The watchdog has emphasized that Mahmood must address the prevailing “bottlenecks” in the process, while the Home Office stated it is already working on solutions.
The situation raises significant questions about the efficiency and viability of the UK’s current asylum process amidst increasing costs and prolonged waiting periods, necessitating urgent attention for systematic reform.
As the UK grapples with its asylum challenges, the interplay between national responsibility and international obligations remains a pressing concern for policymakers.
