Freedom from Torture comment on latest asylum statistics published 26 February 2015

Susan Munroe, CEO, Freedom from Torture, said:

"It is exceptionally concerning that, at a time when more people than ever before are displaced internationally because of human rights violations, the UK ranks only 16th out of 28 EU countries in terms of asylum seekers per head of the population.

We hope that this is not claimed as a success for the asylum system. We note that of those managing to make an application in 2014 the top ten country groups correspond very closely to our own country statistics for those referred to us for help in 2014, because they have suffered torture, particularly from countries such as Sri Lanka, Iran and Pakistan.

Many of torture survivors we are helping are expected to subsist on very low levels of support while awaiting a decision on their claim for asylum which does not assist their treatment for trauma. Even more worrying given the upward trend in detention is the increasing likelihood that they will be wrongly detained in an immigration removal centre, where they will not get the rehabilitation services they need and may be re-traumatised."