Resolving the issues about Asylum Seekers and Refugees MYTH BUSTER Resolving the issues about Asylum Seekers and Refugees Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Introduction FACT: Asylum seekers and refugees are rarely out of the British media FACT: Many myths surround asylum seekers and refugees in the UK FACT: This short presentation seeks to resolve these myths Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Britain Is The Asylum Capital Of The World” MYTH: British people believe that on average the UK has 23% of the world’s refugees FACT: The UK houses under 2% of the world’s refugees Two thirds of the world’s refugees live in developing countries In 2008 the UK ranked 17th in the league table of industrialised countries for the number of asylum applicants per head of population Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers Are Mainly Illegal MYTH: People seeking asylum do so under illegal means FACT: There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker The UK signed the 1951 Convention on Refugees giving anyone the right to apply for asylum in the UK and stay here until a final decision has been made on their application Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers Abuse The Welfare System MYTH: Asylum seekers receive large benefits FACT: Asylum seekers aren’t allowed to claim many types of benefit A lone parent asylum seeker will receive £42.62 per week A single person (not parent) will receive £35.52 per week. FACT: This is 30% below the UK poverty line Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers & Migrants Cause Crime MYTH: Reports in newspapers have implied that asylum seekers and refugees are more likely to cause crime FACT: A report by the Association of Chief Police Officers stated that the “vast majority of people seeking asylum are law abiding citizens” Asylum seekers are more likely to be the victims of crime than the perpetrators A report by Refugee Action stated that one in five of their clients experienced some sort of harassment Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers Cause Unemployment MYTH: Some people believe that asylum seekers take British jobs away from British people FACT: Most asylum seekers aren’t allowed to work Some asylum seekers may take casual jobs. These jobs may pay a wage below the minimum wage Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers Cause The Shortage Of Housing In The UK MYTH: Asylum seekers take all the affordable housing FACT: This problem is not caused by asylum seekers Many asylum seekers are destitute and homeless. If every asylum seeker left the UK there would still be a shortage of housing Recent governments have restricted the building of new homes Last year only 3 units of housing were built for every 1000 people Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Asylum Seekers Drain NHS Resources MYTH: Some people believe that asylum seekers excessively use the NHS for free FACT: Migrants have made a massive contribution to the NHS Today 23% of doctors and 47% of nurses were born outside of the UK Many of these professionals were trained in their countries of origin GPs are allowed to block patients if their lists are too full Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI

Myth: Campaigns against asylum seekers are standing up for ordinary working class people FACT: The campaign against asylum seekers … won’t lead to a single affordable house being built, or a single hospital waiting list being reduced, or a single school being built FACT: The campaign against asylum seekers diverts attention from the real causes of poverty FACT: It divides and weakens initiatives to change things for the better FACT: That’s why trade unions often take the lead in fighting racism Sources: IPPR Factfile: ‘Asylum in the UK’, Crossing Border ‘Press Myths’, Refugee Council ‘The Facts About Asylum, UKBA, UNHCR, ACPO, General Medical Council, Commission for Racial Equality, MORI