Asylum Seekers
Many years ago, during one of the many crises attributable to a previous administration, there was a shortage of both fish and coal. An opposition spokesman at the time observed ‘On an island surrounded by fish and standing on coal it takes considerable genius to arrange a shortage of both at the same time’.
This comment could well apply to the current situation with asylum policy. If our Government, controlling an island state, is unable to control immigration, whether legal or illegal, one wonders what in hell they can control!
As in many things, the one thing that Governments of all hues seem to lack is a modicum of common sense. It is obviously ludicrous to have an appeals procedure that drags on for years at enormous expense, aided and abetted by a legal profession who are growing rich on the process.
Common sense dictates, if a person arrives on our shores illegally they should
immediately be deported, or at the very least detained until their application for entry is checked. Better still, why not require them to apply at a British Embassy abroad? At least then they will not be kept by the British Tax payer while their application is dealt with. Likewise, if a person arrives without proof of identity and origin, they too should not be allowed to land but returned to their port of embarkation.
Very few asylum seekers travel directly from their homeland. They must have had
papers to allow them passage through various other countries. It follows they only
destroy their documentation because they know our ludicrous system will tolerate their misdemeanour. Solution obvious, change the system! Copy their documents before boarding so that replacements can be provided.
The Government claims this is impractical because it would cause hours of delay. In fact it takes about 10 seconds per passenger and could easily be done while tickets are being issued. If, having gained asylum, any person is convicted of a criminal offence within a set time, say two years, they too should be deported together with their dependants.