Asylum Claims by Post (Hansard, 10 February 2003)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin)

In July 2000 we announced that we would not be recording postal claims for asylum from persons living in any of the London boroughs and that they would be required to attend for screening before their claim was recorded and processed. Postal applications have also not been accepted in other parts of the country and alternative screening arrangements have been established. Postal claims have, however, continued to be made from some parts of the country: in 2001–02 they accounted for 7 per cent of all asylum claims, and so far in 2002–03 they have accounted for 8.9 per cent.

As from 8 February, anyone wishing to make an asylum claim will need to do so in person, and postal applications for asylum will no longer be accepted. We expect individuals to make their claim at a port of entry, where they will be screened and any request for support will be considered. Where a person in-country writes in by post, their purported claim will not be recorded. They will instead be advised to apply in person at Croydon or Liverpool. In the very exceptional case where a person is genuinely unable to attend one of these sites, alternative arrangements will be made to ensure that person can be screened and their claim processed.

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This change is part of our ongoing strategy to tighten up management of the asylum system.