Asylum and resettlement

A migrant is someone who moves to another country, often for work, study, or to join family. An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country due to danger like war or persecution and is asking for protection. If their request is approved, they become a refugee.

In some cases, refugee status is recognised through resettlement schemes – these people do not come through the asylum system because their status as refugee has already been confirmed.

In 2024, asylum seekers and refugees combined made up around 16% of immigration to the U.K.

International law says everyone has the right to seek asylum, but you must be in the UK to apply. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, anyone with a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons such as their race, religion and politics can avail themselves of protection in another country. The 1951 Refugee Convention also recognises that people may have to use irregular or unconventional routes to escape and travel. 

They must be in the UK and tell the authorities they want to claim asylum. In the year ending March 2025, of those claiming asylum 33% arrived by small boat and the majority in other ways. The Home Office checks their case and may approve or deny it. If denied, they can appeal.

When individuals arrive in the UK, initial assessments and security checks are undertaken by the Home Office, including biometric (facial recognition and fingerprint) data, after which individuals are issued with an identity card known as an Application Registration Card (ARC). The Home Office notify their contracted provider (Serco, in Melton) of any previous known offences and risks in advance of any arrivals at any contingency sites. An assessment is then made to ensure that the property is appropriate accommodation.

Sourcing on the provider (Serco) is not something managed by Melton Borough Council, but is overseen by the Home Office

There is no robust data to support the claim that asylum seekers are more likely to commit crime. Both the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Home Office have confirmed they do not currently publish data on crimes committed by asylum seekers specifically.

Reports that rising crime figures to areas of increased asylum seekers do not clarify that this may be because they are as much likely to be the victims of crimes as the perpetrators.

There is no law that says they must, because this would place a disproportionate and untenable burden on just a handful of countries. Before Brexit, the UK was part of the Dublin III agreement and all signatory member states are considered safe third countries. The country in which the asylum seeker first applies for asylum is responsible for either accepting or rejecting the claim, and the seeker may not restart the process in another jurisdiction. However, this no longer applies to the UK after Brexit.

Asylum seekers are spread across the EU and other countries. The UK is not disproportionately targeted. Countries like Iran, Turkey, Colombia, Germany, and Uganda host significant numbers of asylum seekers. 

Refugee Data Finder - Key Indicators provides further useful refugee and asylum data.

Some choose the UK because they speak English or have family here. These are called 'pull factors'. In other cases, they have been smuggled here, and it has not been their choice.

Some stay with friends or family. Others live in housing or hotel buildings in hostel conditions, paid for by the government and dispersed across the country. It is broadly recognised that hotels are not suitable or desirable places to be housing asylum seekers and therefore alternative options should be sought.

Accommodation is provided by a Home Office contracted provider. In Melton, the contracted provider is Serco. We provide information to Serco about locations and areas we believe are inappropriate. But we must provide evidence and data to support our objection to a proposed property. Outside of this, the Council have little influence to prevent or intervene in the procurement process of private rented sector properties.

A property needs an HMO license when it is rented to five or more people from more than one household, and these tenants share facilities like a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Serco are required to apply for a licence to operate an HMO through the Council’s Licensing team.

When an application is received for an HMO, Environmental Health and Licensing are required to carry out specific checks, including an inspection of housing standards. The requirements are dependent on the type of accommodation (property type/size). Mandatory conditions include gas, electrical and fire safety and the evidencing of these via certification. There are minimum space and amenity standards dependant on the type of HMO. The licence will only be issued when these conditions are met, and the property is safe. The licence cannot be issued or refused on the basis of who will reside at the property.

All parts of the country are required to play their part in supporting the asylum system.

Asylum seekers in the UK are dispersed across the country to distribute the responsibility of housing them more evenly and to ensure that any single local authorities or regions are not overburdened with disproportionate and concentrated numbers, and the impact on public services is spread. Every Local Authority is provided with nominal numbers as a target of what their share of bed spaces/users needs to be. This target is reviewed every six months, can go up or down and we have no say in what this target is.

Many individuals are forced to flee as young as 15 years old after witnessing the loss of their parents. In some cases, young single males are the only ones to have survived the treacherous journey that the very young or very old cannot endure, many have lost friends or family along the way. It is not uncommon for young males to have been specifically sent alone as the one member of the family strong enough to survive. Young men are also those most in need of fleeing forced conscription into terrorist cells or the armies of corrupt regimes.

Most cannot get regular benefits. They may get housing and basic support while waiting for a decision. If they get meals, they receive about £9 a week. If they cook for themselves, they get about £49 a week. They may also get help if they have children or are pregnant.

Asylum seekers are often given clothing or other essential items on arrival by charities.

Only if they’ve waited over 12 months for a decision and are not at fault for the delay. Even then, they can only do certain jobs.

They can use the NHS, and their children can go to school. Some may get free school meals or childcare.

They become a refugee and can live and work in the UK.

Not all asylum seekers will stay within the Melton area even if they become official refugees. They may have family members who have been in the UK a number of years or friends living in other areas.

No. While waiting for their application to be processed, they cannot access social housing. We do not have asylum seekers residing in our own property stock. If granted asylum, they can apply like any UK resident if they fulfil the eligibility criteria according to local housing allocation policies. They will not be given preferential treatment over anybody else on the waiting list simply because they have been granted refugee status.

We have been able to buy three new properties and bring them into our own stock from funding related to the Afghan Relocation programme. Two of these properties had to be let to families on the Afghan Resettlement programme as a condition of the funding. This means that in the short-term Melton has benefited with an extra property for local people and in the longer term that figure is three extra homes for Melton residents entitled to social housing. This is different to any asylum seeker scheme.

Parks and open spaces are to be enjoyed by all. Many asylum seekers face challenges such as poor living conditions, limited social opportunities and often they are not allowed to work. This along with stress and trauma they may have faced can have an impact on mental health. Parks offer a place for recreation, connect with others and feel part of the community.

No. Children do not get preference for school placements. The council are in regular contact with Leicestershire County Council to understand pressures amongst education but pressure from asylum seekers is currently not an issue in the Melton borough.

There are no priorities for any asylum seeker to receive health provision over anyone else.  This would only be based on an urgent need. They use services like health and education based on need, just like everyone else. However, upon arrival and placement into dispersed accommodation, they may be booked in for initial health checks and this may be done as a group for ease if they are placed in hotels or houses of multiple occupation. 

Services such as police, NHS and local authorities will receive funding based on previously determined factors from central Government and dependent on eligibility for specific asylum schemes.

These schemes are separate to the asylum and refugee processes and operate as a distinct pathway of pre-arranged transfer and support. Resettlement schemes provide a safe and recognised legal route for refugees to enter a host country based on vulnerability or other criteria. The UK currently operates a number of legal resettlement schemes - some of these are listed below:

Afghan Resettlement Programmes (ARP) – This scheme focuses on resettling Afghan citizens and their families who worked with or for the UK in Afghanistan.

Homes for Ukraine – This program was introduced in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It allows individuals in the UK to sponsor Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to come to the UK and live with them.

Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) – This scheme allows British Nationals and eligible family members in Hong Kong to live, work and study in the UK with a pathway to settlement.

A friendly smile, welcome or invitation at a local community group or sports club can make a big difference.