Blunkett threatens to put electronic tags on failed asylum-seekers
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
28 November 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=467951
The Independent
Failed asylum-seekers could soon be electronically tagged to prevent them
from absconding, David Blunkett said yesterday.
Publishing details of his latest overhaul of the asylum system, the Home
Secretary said they could be fitted with satellite tracking technology,
which pinpoints their exact location, within a year. The Home Office also
confirmed it had achieved Tony Blair's target of halving asylum claims over
12 months. But the gloss was taken off the announcement by a rise in
applications during the summer, mainly among refugees from east Africa.
The tagging initiative is aimed at asylum-seekers whose applications have
been rejected and are awaiting deportation as well as those whose claims are
unfounded.Mr Blunkett said: "It is an alternative to secure removal centres.
If we can track people, both in terms of electronic tagging and, in future,
satellite tracking, we can avoid having to use that." He added: "We can do
it in relation to cars. We can certainly do it in relation to people."
Under the Asylum and Immigration Bill, the right of asylum-seekers to appeal
against a decision to remove them is reduced. The existing two-stage appeal
process is reduced to one and claimants will be prevented from taking their
claims to the High Court.
Mr Blunkett said he would press ahead with plans to take into care the
children of failed asylum-seekers who refused a free flight home, but
stressed the provision would only apply to "a handful" of families. The
measure is not contained in the Bill, limiting the scope of Labour
backbenchers to rebel against the move, which has been denounced as
"despicable" by Michael Howard, the Tory leader.
The Bill introduces jail sentences of up to two years for refugees who
destroy their passports believing it will boost their chances of staying in
Britain. Mr Blunkett, who said 70 per cent of airline passengers who claimed
asylum-seekers disposed of their papers before arriving, is preparing to
force airlines to copy passengers' travel documents before taking off.
Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, said that refugees would be
restricted to five hours' free advice from solicitors and other approved
advisers. The step is expected to cut £30m from the £174m legal aid budget
for asylum and immigration cases.
The Home Office said yesterday it had met Mr Blair's promise to halve
asylum-seeker numbers over a year. David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary,
said: "We welcome the fact the number of asylum- seekers has apparently come
down, but these figures should be treated with a large amount of
scepticism." The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Mark Oaten, said:
"People want a firm but fair asylum system, not one that uses children as a
political tool and removes rights of appeal."
Kate Allen of Amnesty International said: "Britain has a responsibility to
offer protection to refugees. It is tragic that this is being eroded for
short-term political gain."
************************************************************************************
Distributed through Cyber-Society-Live [CSL]: CSL is a moderated discussion
list made up of people who are interested in the interdisciplinary academic
study of Cyber Society in all its manifestations.To join the list please visit:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cyber-society-live.html
*************************************************************************************
|