[UK] Kirk attacks 'forced poverty' policy of discouraging asylum seekers

from The Scotsman

CRAIG BROWN

THE Church of Scotland has accused the UK government of operating a "policy of destitution" to persuade asylum seekers to give up their claims and return to their country of origin.

The Kirk's influential Church and Society Council says that "the denial of shelter and means of support to unsuccessful asylum seekers by the deliberate action of the state is an affront to the values of the civilisation that we like to believe we live in".

The report is highlighting the plight of those who, having had their applications for asylum rejected, do not have access to financial support, but who remain in this country pending an appeal or while awaiting deportation.

In its report, the council also expresses "grave concerns" over the impact on families of dawn raids to remove asylum seekers.

The report highlights the case of the Vacaj family, who hit the headlines last year when they were forcibly removed from their home by police in full body armour during the early hours.

The Church says it shares the view of Scotland's Children's Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, that dawn raids and the handcuffing of children are clear breaches of human rights, and condemns "the terrorising of children".

The council convener, Morag Mylne, added: "This policy is represented by the 2004 Asylum and Immigration Act, and the consequences of it are to deny failed asylum seekers support. Those with children face the prospect of having them taken into care.

"By taking away any support or benefits, which is what the legislation does, that effectively uses destitution as a method of - as the government says - encouraging people to leave and discouraging others who might otherwise come.

"The asylum support legislation is extremely complicated and changing all the time, which means people are uncertain of what they are entitled to."

Robina Qureshi, a race and housing officer for Positive Action in Housing, a charity which supports asylum seekers and ethnic minority groups, said she was seeing the results of government policy.

When the report goes before the General Assembly later this month, it will ask members to urge the government to "uphold their moral and legal responsibilities, as well as their duties under the UN Declaration of Human Rights".

They will also be asked to support calls for the Home Office to establish a protocol of principles and practice in relation to the removal of asylum seekers, that ensures people are treated with "dignity and respect".

A spokeswoman for the Home Office responded: "It is nonsense to say that the Home Office is following a policy of destitution in relation to asylum seekers.

"All asylum seekers in need and with an outstanding application are eligible for National Support Service, as are those who have failed in their application and are not able to return home through no fault of their own."

She said asylum claims were considered on a case-by-case basis "in line with our international obligations".

She added: "However, it is vital for the integrity of our asylum seekers that any individual who is found not in need of international protection should be expected to leave the UK."

She said the Home Office was currently having a "constructive dialogue with the Scottish Executive on a range of immigration issues".