§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who have committed crimes in the UK in the last five years have been deported. [151270]
§ Beverley HughesThe number of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action in each of the last five years for which information is available is given in the table.
Persons removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action 1998 to 20021,2,3 Total of whom: principal asylum applicants of whom: non-asylum cases 1998 1,730 350 1,380 1999 1,210 140 1,075 2000 1,280 145 1,140 2001 450 85 365 20024 415 100 315 1 Under section 3(5) and 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971. 2 Figures for 2001 and 2002 have been estimated. 3 Deportation figures may be under recorded in 1999 and 2000. 4 Provisional figures. The number of these who were removed after having committed a crime is not available except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
We take very seriously any criminal or antisocial acts committed by asylum seekers. Although there is no evidence to suggest that asylum seekers are disproportionately likely to commit crime, we have taken powers in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 to prevent serious criminals using the protection of the 1951 Refugee Convention. We will seek to remove such criminals from the United Kingdom wherever possible.