Safe space

Lessar Avenue is a quiet street in south London. At 7.25am last Wednesday, it was the scene of a terrifying assault. Locals saw a man throwing a child to the ground as a woman screamed for help. When they intervened, he tried to run someone over before escaping on foot.

The woman had been attacked with a corrosive alkaline liquid. The substance caused burns and temporary blindness. Witnesses heard her screaming: "My eyes! Police!" Her two daughters also suffered potentially life-changing injuries.

The attack was committed by Abdul Ezedi, a 35-year-old man from AfghanistanA mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China.. He arrived in the UK in a lorry in 2016. After three attempts, he was granted asylumWhen a state agrees to shelter somebody who is fleeing dangerous circumstances. The right to asylum is protected in international law by the 1951 Refugee Convention., despite being convicted of a sexual offence in 2018.

For many, this incident shows what's wrong with the UK asylum system. According to Robert Jenrick, the former minister for immigration, "our asylum system is dangerously broken."¹

Critics argue that the main problem is the type of people being granted asylum. After the south London attack, they asked why a convicted criminal like Abdul Ezedi was allowed to stay.

The debate around asylum can be confusing and frightening. Here are five facts to bear in mind:

Real refugees. Refugees are people who leave their own country because they are in danger. Once they have arrived in a safe country, they can apply for asylum, which is the right to stay. They are different from migrants, who come to a country for family or work.

Living locally. The majority of refugees (72%) live in one of the countries next to their country of origin. Only 1% of the world's refugees live in the UK.

Victims and the vulnerable. Refugees are likely to be vulnerable. In total, 41% are children, while two thirds of refugees come from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and MyanmarThe largest country in mainland south-east Asia, formerly known as Burma. It is an ethnically diverse place, something that has often resulted in fierce conflict. - five of the most dangerous places on earth.

State support. Refugees rarely come to Britain knowing about the welfare system. Those seeking asylum are not allowed to work and rely on state support - as little as £6.43 a day.

Legal status. There is no legal way to travel to the UK when seeking asylum. However, the 1951 Refugee Convention grants everybody the right to apply for asylum.²

Many of those who work with refugees recognise that the UK system is too complicated and inefficient. Last year, the backlog of applications for asylum peaked at 139,555, due to a large increase in the number of people arriving in small boats.³

A report from the UNUnited Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.'s refugee agency warned that Home OfficeThe government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order. staff did not have enough training or resources to assess applications. According to UN representative Vicky Tennant, "flawed and inefficient screening procedures are currently undermining the UK's asylum capacity".⁴

This problem will not go away. In fact, the number of global refugees increased considerably in 2023. Given war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and the growing threat of climate change, the UK will need an asylum system that works for everyone.

Do we need a new system?

Yes: The fact that someone was granted asylum in the UK after committing an assault shows that the system needs reform. Criminals should forfeit their right to a place.

No: One shocking attack does not change the fact that most refugees are vulnerable people who deserve our help when making a new life for themselves.

Or... Given how inefficient the asylum system is, it is inevitable that a few bad people will be allowed in. But reform needs careful thought, not a knee-jerk responseReacting in a predictable or automatic way, without thinking properly about your decision. .