Priti Patel vowed to implement ‘fundamental reform’ of Britain’s asylum system yesterday amid mounting concern about the Channel migrants crisis.
The Home Secretary pledged to shake up refugee laws to make it easier to expel migrants who do not have a legitimate right to stay in the UK.
Among her new commitments was a promise to tackle ‘litigious’ human rights claimants who seek to delay their deportation from Britain after their cases are refused.
Priti Patel vowed to implement ‘fundamental reform’ of Britain’s asylum system after mounting concern about the Channel migrants crisis
A wide-ranging package of measures due to be published early next year will also make it more difficult for foreign criminals to avoid deportation by lodging an asylum claim, the Mail has learned.
The law will be changed to force immigration judges to place more weight on the harm caused by serious criminals, making it more likely appeals will be rejected.
Miss Patel’s pledge for wide-ranging action came after her enemies anonymously claimed at the weekend that a failure to address the Channel crisis had left her vulnerable in a potential Cabinet reshuffle.
The Home Secretary told the Mail: ‘We need to bring in some fundamental change to our entire asylum policy in terms of some of the ways in which we deal with cases, but also the way in which people can come and claim asylum in our country.
Miss Patel insisted there was a huge amount of work being done to reduce the number of small migrant boats crossing from northern France
‘It’s right that we give refuge to people who’ve been persecuted. At the same time we have to deal with many of the other litigious cases that come forward… It’s all linked – the asylum system and illegal migration.’
Miss Patel insisted there was a huge amount of work being done to reduce the number of small migrant boats crossing from northern France. More than 8,500 migrants have crossed so far this year, up from 1,850 last year – but no deal has been reached with France.
It is understood a Bill, to be introduced early in the New Year, will force judges to place more weight on asylum seekers’ criminal records.
Currently, serious criminals including killers and rapists trump deportation orders in the courts by claiming their human rights will be infringed if they are sent back to their home countries.
In May the Mail revealed Miss Patel is also planning to tighten the appeals system for non-criminal claimants.
They will have to lodge all their arguments at the beginning of a case so they cannot make a series of legal claims to delay deportation.
Boris: There is no place for bullying
Boris Johnson has warned ministers and top civil servants there is ‘no place for bullying’ in Government after a report found Home Secretary Priti Patel shouted and swore at staff.
The Prime Minister wrote to senior figures reminding them to remain ‘respectful’ – but said they should also be able to ‘speak freely and honestly’.
Boris Johnson has warned ministers and top civil servants there is ‘no place for bullying’ in Government
In the letter, signed jointly with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, Mr Johnson said that ‘mutual trust and respect between politicians and their officials are paramount’.
Last week a report by civil service mandarin Sir Alex Allan found Miss Patel shouted and swore at officials in her department – ‘behaviour that can be described as bullying’.
Sir Alex said she breached the ministerial code – but Mr Johnson overruled his conclusion.
