Policy Hub
On 23 January 2009, the National Audit Office (NAO) published a report (Management of asylum applications by the UK Border Agency) which reveals that the New Asylum Model, introduced by the Home Office in 2006 to achieve faster conclusions to asylum applications, has strengthened aspects of the asylum process.
The report suggests that the case ownership approach, in which a single individual manages an application from start to finish, has created a strong incentive to complete cases. As a consequence, applications are being concluded more quickly.
Under the New Asylum Model, there has been a rise in the proportion of cases being dealt with within six months, peaking above the target of 40% in December 2007. An increase in the number of asylum applicants during the second half of 2007 has been followed by some slippage in performance. However, there are encouraging signs that the quality of decision-making is improving.
The report contends that the new process is not yet working to its optimum efficiency and effectiveness. The backlog of decisions to be made has more than doubled in over a year, to 8,700 in the second quarter of 2008. In addition, few removals of failed applicants are being achieved under the New Asylum Model, hampered by a lack of detention space and problems obtaining emergency travel documents.