The UK’s asylum system is nearing collapse due to years of short-term decision-making and a lack of strategic planning, a cross-party group of MPs has warned.
A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the government’s handling of asylum claims, describing the current situation as “shocking and unacceptable” and warning that ministers have lost control of key parts of the system.
The committee said the Home Office has relied on reactive measures rather than developing a long-term strategy to address growing pressures.
One of the report’s most alarming findings was that officials do not know the whereabouts of all failed asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected.
According to the PAC, the Home Office admitted it only knows where the “vast majority” of failed asylum seekers are located.
The committee argued that problems have simply been shifted around the system rather than solved.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: “Our report provides an end-to-end snapshot of the entire asylum system, and its findings paint a disturbing picture – at the time of our inquiry, control of it had been all but lost.”
“The focus on short term, reactive ‘fixes’ has left the Government chasing after pressures pushed from one part of the system to the next.”
“There is no clear strategy uniting these efforts.”
The report also highlighted poor coordination between government departments and local authorities, particularly over asylum accommodation.
Labour has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels before the end of the current Parliament, but the PAC warned that previous attempts to move asylum seekers into alternative accommodation have faced significant challenges.
The committee pointed to ongoing controversy surrounding the use of the Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, where local authorities and residents have criticised the government’s communication over plans to extend its use.
The PAC concluded that the government’s asylum strategy lacks clear objectives and has become increasingly “reactive and disjointed”.
“Narrowly focused fixes used to respond to rising case backlogs and costs have shifted rather than addressed issues, creating pressure elsewhere in the system,” the report stated.
In response, the Home Office defended its record, pointing to falling asylum claims and increased immigration enforcement activity.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Asylum claims are down, hotel use is falling and immigration enforcement activity is at the highest level on record – with the largest number of raids and arrests ever.”
“We’ve tracked down and removed nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals since the Government took office – a 41% increase.”
“Any asylum seekers who break their bail conditions by absconding will be tracked down and arrested.”
The findings have also triggered criticism from opposition parties.
Chris Philp said: “Labour have lost total control and have now admitted they do not even know where the people ordered to leave are.”
Meanwhile, Max Wilkinson argued ministers should focus on clearing the asylum backlog rather than introducing new headline-grabbing policies.
He said the system was “teetering on the brink of collapse”.
Refugee charities also responded to the report.
Imran Hussain said: “This report sets out the lasting damage inflicted on the asylum system by many years of headline-grabbing policies and short-term fixes.”
“It compellingly mirrors the reality that charities like ours see every day.”
The Home Office is expected to publish a formal response to the committee’s findings in the coming months.