Ministers under pressure to toughen up Home Office rules on asylum seekers

Tory MPs criticize soft rules on migrants' claims

Ministers in the UK are facing calls to revise lenient Home Office guidelines that advise staff not to be skeptical about asylum seekers' claims. The guidance also suggests that a lie by a claimant should not automatically result in the rejection of their application. These directives have been met with backlash from Conservative MPs, who argue that case workers should be more cautious in order to prevent fraud and abuse.

Concerns over video call interviews

Another area of concern is the use of video call interviews instead of face-to-face meetings with assessors. Some politicians are questioning the effectiveness of remote assessments and believe that in-person interviews should be the standard practice. Critics argue that video calls may lack the same level of scrutiny and personal interaction necessary for evaluating asylum claims.

700 more case workers recruited to tackle backlog

In an attempt to address the backlog of 170,000 asylum claims, the Home Office plans to recruit an additional 700 case workers, bringing the total to 2,500. The hope is that this increase in staff will help expedite the processing of applications and reduce the waiting time for those seeking asylum in the UK.

Controversial guidelines on questioning and body language

Controversy also surrounds guidelines that state migrants are not obligated to answer questions that they find "upsetting" during the assessment process. Additionally, assessors are advised to use non-threatening body language, such as keeping their arms uncrossed and smiling when appropriate. Critics argue that these directives undermine the thoroughness of the evaluation process.

Restrictions on probing sexual orientation

UK law prohibits questioning asylum claimants about their sexual preferences or activity. The Home Office guidance further states that individuals claiming persecution based on their sexual orientation do not have to provide proof of their identity. This has prompted concerns that the system is flawed and could potentially be exploited.

Conservative MP Marco Longhi, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, expressed dismay at the current guidance, stating, "This guidance shows how utterly broken our system is." The Home Office, however, maintains that their procedures ensure that claims are thoroughly considered.