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Another
Country: Implementing Dispersal under the Immigration and Asylum
Act 1999
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Description:
"The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary for
those fleeing war or persecution, but the asylum system is under
severe strain.
- over
70,000 asylum applications were made in 1999
the backlog of claims awaiting a decision is just under
100,000
- London
houses over 85 per cent of asylum seekers and refugees
- The
Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 introduces a national dispersal
policy for asylum seekers to ease pressure on authorities
in London and Kent, but its success could be hampered by
inadequate local services and poor community relations.
- failure
to secure sufficient accommodation has proved a barrier
to dispersal · legal advice and interpretation services
are in short supply outside the capital in some areas, community
tensions have been raised by emotive and sensational media
reporting
Good practice does exist, but it is far from universal.
- poor
information about asylum seekers' needs often hinders service
planning
- language
barriers and low staff awareness of asylum seekers' rights
and entitlements are persistent problems
- some
schools and GPs are reluctant to accept asylum seekers,
especially if they impose new demands on over-stretched
services
- For
dispersal to succeed, local agencies should develop co-ordinated
strategies to meet the needs of this vulnerable group.
- local
services could be made more accessible
positive public relations strategies and sensitive policing
policies are vital
more employment and training schemes are needed to promote
the integration of those allowed to stay in the UK
Central government can help by making parallel improvements
in the national framework.
- faster
decisions on applications need to be sustained
- more
positive messages would help to abate the overwhelmingly
negative media coverage
funding should cover the reasonable costs of local services
and promote value for money
Dispersal offers a new opportunity to develop a more coherent
response to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Failure
to do so may be costly - without effective support, asylum
seekers could be trapped in a cycle of social exclusion
and dependency in their new communities, or they may drift
back to London."
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| http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/ |
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