Home » News » Refugee Crisis Europe » Britain sees an eight per cent rise in asylum seekers

Britain sees an eight per cent rise in asylum seekers

image_pdfimage_print
  • 37,730 asylum seekers came to the UK last year, new figures have revealed
  • It is an eight percent increase on the 34,780 arrivals the previous year
  • Iranians made up the highest percentage of ethnic groups at 11 percent
  • Meanwhile across Europe 664,480 asylum seekers arrived, down on 2017

The number of asylum seekers coming to Britain has risen by nearly 10 percent after more than 37,000 people applied to stay in the UK last year.

The figure is eight percent higher than in 2017 when 34,780 applications were submitted to the Home Office.

Newly released data shows Britain is the sixth highest destination for migrants in Europe, with Germany at the top after recording 180,000 requests for asylum last year.

FranceGreeceItaly, and Spain are also above the UK, according to the report by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), which revealed there were 664,480 applications across Europe in total last year.

The data shows Iranians made up the highest percentage of asylum seekers in the UK in 2018 at 11 percent.

This graph shows how the change in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain each year, with an eight per cent rise between 2017 and 2018 recorded
This graph shows how the change in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain each year, with an eight per cent rise between 2017 and 2018 recorded


It comes as a record 163 migrants were picked up off the coast of the UK by Border Force officials in June.

And more than 700 migrants have been picked up on British waters since last November.

In December, Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared a major incident after 138 migrants were picked up.

He called in extra Border Force cutters in a bid to stem the surge, but 140 made it into the UK last month.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘Anyone crossing the Channel in a small boat is taking a huge risk with their life and the lives of their children.

‘Since the Home Secretary declared a major incident in December, two cutters have returned to UK waters from overseas operations.

‘We have also agreed on a joint action plan with France and increased activity out of the Joint Coordination and Information Centre in Calais.

‘Earlier this month, the Home Secretary and the French Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner, agreed to continue to explore options to reinforce the efforts already being made.

Pictured is a woman who was among 38 migrants to reach Kent earlier this month. The 38 people were made up of men, women and children, all claiming to be either Iranian or Iraqi
Pictured is a woman who was among 38 migrants to reach Kent earlier this month. The 38 people were made up of men, women, and children, all claiming to be either Iranian or Iraqi


‘It is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and since January more than 35 people who arrived illegally in the UK in small boats have been returned to Europe.’

The EASO report showed there was a decrease in the total amount of applications across Europe for a third consecutive year.

And 39 percent of the applicants were successful on their first attempt, down seven percent in 2017.

Although fewer positive decisions were handed out, 55 percent of those gave the asylum seeker refugee status.

Syria (13 percent), Afghanistan and Iraq (seven percent each) were the three main countries of origin of applicants in the EU+ in 2018.

The top 10 citizenships of origin also included Pakistan, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey (four percent each) and Venezuela, Albania and Georgia (three percent each).

The top 10 citizenships of origin also included Pakistan, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey (four per cent each) and Venezuela, Albania and Georgia (three per cent each).

How the number of asylum seekers coming to Europe has changed year-on-year

Country

 2017

 2018

 % change

Germany

France

Greece

Italy

Spain

UK

Netherlands

Belgium

Sweden

Switzerland

 222,560

 99,330

 58,650

 128,850

 36,605

 34,780

 18,210

 18,340

 26,325

 18,015

 184,180

 120,425

 66,965

 59,950

 54,050

 37,730

 24,025

 22,530

 21,560

 15,160

 – 17%

 + 21%

 + 14%

 – 53%

 + 48%

 + 8%

 + 32%

 + 23%

 – 18%

 – 16%