Asylum seekers win test case

Thursday, 31 July 2003 12:00 AM

Three asylum seekers have won a test case against Government policy after a judge ruled that the Government's refusal to supply them with food and shelter during the process of their applications amounted to a breach of their human rights.

The three asylum seekers, known only as S, D, and T have been held up by human rights lawyers as examples of the human effect of the introduction in January of new rules stating that asylum seekers must make their application as soon as possible after landing in Britain or face the loss of benefits.

The new rules were introduced as part of the Government's drive to clamp down on numbers of asylum seekers entering the country under the perception that the UK was a "soft touch" for economic migrants.

Mr Justice Kay stated that the policy of the Government would lead to an increase in the number of beggars in Britain's streets as asylum seekers were unable to legally seek paid work in order to pay for food and shelter.

Giving her support to the ruling, Sue Willman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Community Law Centre condemned the Government's policy.

"It is inhuman and degrading treatment to put and asylum seekers on the street so that their only option is to beg or to fall into crime," she told Channel Four News.

The Home Office was told it could appeal the decision if it so wished. A statement released by the Government today argued that the Home Office policy was "entirely reasonable" and that the Government would indeed plan to challenge the ruling.

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