Croydon Council Claims New Asylum System is Unreasonable

The Croydon Council says that the changes to the way that asylum claims are made has put a great deal of pressure on services in south London. Ever since October 14, refugees who have claimed asylum at their port of entry have had to travel to Lunar House in Croydon to make their application. The Refugee Council says that about 90 percent of asylum claims are made this way.

The Croydon Council went on to say that it now pays around £3 million extra direct costs and £5 million indirect costs annually to fund this center. The council noted that the refugees who have to travel to Croydon, regardless of where they arrive in the UK, will end up settling in the borough and putting even greater pressure on its resources.

The Conservative Councilor, Gavin Barwell, said that this new system costs the council about £33 million to run. The government only currently compensates it with £30 million. Thus, simple math shows that there is a £3 million gap to fill.

The indirect costs that are being paid include additional expenditure on education for the children of asylum seekers. Gavin Barwell said that it is wrong that one local authority area has to deal with this national issue. He noted that Croydon has always tried to help unfortunate people, but at this moment it is unfair that Crydon has to deal with the problem for the entire UK.

Donna Covey, the Refugee Council's Chief executive, said that it is unfair and unreasonable to force people in other parts of the UK to travel to Croydon just to ask for asylum. Donna said that the asylum process needs to be more accessible.